Softbank Group To Invest $100 Billion In US AI Infrastructure

According to Cointelegraph, Masayoshi Son, CEO of Softbank Group, has announced a significant investment of at least $100 billion in the United States to develop artificial intelligence infrastructure. This announcement was made on December 16 at President-elect Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump stated that this partnership is expected to create 100,000 jobs focused on AI, although specific details are yet to be disclosed. During the announcement, Son and Trump engaged in light-hearted banter, with Trump suggesting the investment amount be doubled. Son humorously acknowledged Trump as a “great negotiator” and expressed willingness to consider the suggestion. This collaboration marks a continuation of the relationship between Son and Trump, which began during Trump’s first administration. In 2016, Softbank Group committed $50 billion to U.S. infrastructure, promising to create 50,000 jobs. While it remains unclear if these jobs materialized, CNBC reported that the funds were disbursed by 2020. The Department of the Treasury has not yet responded to Cointelegraph’s request for comment. Under Trump’s second administration, Softbank is likely to encounter a more favorable foreign trade and investment environment in the U.S. Trump has pledged to streamline banking regulations and expedite investments exceeding $1 billion, including environmental impact assessments. Softbank’s renewed focus on AI aligns with a period of recovery for the company, which suffered a significant loss of value during the dot-com bubble burst between 2000 and 2002. The firm’s resurgence is largely attributed to strategic AI investments, such as a $1.5 billion stake in OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, in November 2024. Despite setbacks from its "Vision" investment arm, including the costly closure of WeWork, Softbank has regained prominence. As of late 2024, Softbank holds approximately $175 billion in assets and equivalents, though the amount available for immediate investment is uncertain. Both Trump and Son have indicated that Softbank Group intends to fulfill the $100 billion investment by the end of 2028.