Son seeks $100B for AI-focused fund

Masayoshi Son, founder of SoftBank and Japan's wealthiest individual, is seeking up to $100 billion from Gulf investors to establish a new fund focused on artificial intelligence and robotics.

The proposed fund would target established, non-technology firms that have not kept pace with automation, with the goal of improving their efficiency and corporate value through AI and physical robotics.

Son has reportedly reached out to influential sovereign investors in the Middle East, including senior leaders in the United Arab Emirates, to assess their financial interest in the plan.

The strategy involves acquiring controlling stakes in companies that could benefit from modernization, deploying AI tools to enhance operations, and capturing valuation gains from enterprise AI applications.

SoftBank's robotics and AI unit, Roze, is expected to play a central role in implementing the plan, with Son aiming to eventually list Roze on public markets at a high valuation.

The fund's structure and capital commitments are not yet finalized, and it remains unclear whether it will solely fund acquisitions or also support development costs for Roze.