SoftBank Seeks $100 Billion from Gulf Investors for AI Transformation Fund
SoftBank plans to raise $100 billion to acquire traditional companies and enhance their value through AI and robotics, marking a shift from its previous tech-focused investment vehicles.
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SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son is seeking up to $100 billion from Gulf investors to establish a new fund.
The fund aims to acquire existing companies and improve their operations using artificial intelligence and robotics to boost their value. This represents a relatively novel model for monetizing AI, differing from SoftBank's previous investment vehicles which primarily financed technology companies.
According to the Financial Times, Son has approached senior figures in the United Arab Emirates and other Middle Eastern nations. SoftBank's robotics and physical AI division, Roze, is expected to play a major role in these transformations, though exact details remain unclear.
Neither the fund's establishment nor its financing is guaranteed. It remains uncertain whether the fund will only finance acquisitions or also support the development of Roze.