SoftBank has closed its fourth fiscal quarter with a net profit of 1.83 trillion yen, a figure that makes the average analyst estimate of just 295.2 billion yen look ridiculous. This result has been the perfect fuel for Masayoshi Son, its founder, to decide to double down on his bet on artificial intelligence, with OpenAI as the main destination for his capital.
Son's technical bet: massive infrastructure for AI models 🚀
Son's strategy involves investing in high-performance hardware, such as next-generation GPUs and specialized data centers, to support the training of increasingly large language models. SoftBank has already channeled funds into companies developing chips and cloud computing platforms, seeking to secure a stable supply of computing power. The goal is clear: not to depend on third parties and to have control over the technological supply chain that OpenAI demands.
Son thinks he's smarter than the market (and maybe he's right) 🤔
While analysts adjusted their glasses and calculated more modest figures, Son showed up with a profit six times higher than expected. Now, with a hot checkbook, he goes after OpenAI like someone buying gum at a supermarket. The move is reminiscent of when he invested in WeWork and lost a fortune, but this time he swears AI is different. We'll see if the guru of risky business gets it right or if he treats us to another season of documentary material.