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Featured story

SoftBank Drops $100 Billion Bet on U.S. AI

SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, alongside Donald Trump, has announced a $100 billion investment in the U.S., promising at least 100,000 new jobs. The deal, focused on artificial intelligence and infrastructure, comes with big ambitions—and even bigger stakes. If this sounds familiar, it’s because SoftBank made a similar promise in 2016, pledging $50 billion under Trump’s first term.

But the road hasn’t been smooth for SoftBank. Massive losses from flops like WeWork and other tech investments have bruised the Japanese firm’s reputation. This new move into AI is Son’s shot at redemption and a way to prove that SoftBank can still pick winners in an increasingly competitive space.

With AI driving record investment across industries, the $100 billion gamble positions SoftBank at the heart of America’s tech boom. Whether this is the comeback story Son’s been waiting for—or another costly misstep—will play out in the years ahead.

Off-balance sheet items

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