CEO Message(Masayoshi Son)—SoftBank Group Report 2025

Key ideas

Son says a belief from age 17 underlies SoftBank, and stakes the company on becoming the leading platform provider for artificial superintelligence through Arm and OpenAI.

1. 1

   One belief can steer decades

   Son writes that a magazine photo of a microcomputer chip moved him to tears at 17 and convinced him humanity would one day create intelligence beyond its own. He says that belief has never wavered and sits at the foundation of SoftBank. He puts bold vision ahead of the share price, and expects the numbers to follow.

2. 2

   Frequent pivots, and the criticism they drew

   Son lists SoftBank's moves from PC software distribution to internet, broadband, mobile and investing, and says each change drew doubts about its direction or survival. He answers those doubts by pointing to growth in net asset value over the years, while conceding some volatility.

3. 3

   Aim for increasing returns

   Son divides companies into those with shrinking margins over time and those whose profitability and influence grow with scale, and says much of Japanese industry has been stuck in the first group for 30 years. He wants SoftBank in the second, as a platform provider at the core of a new industry. He says he is staking everything on ASI, and names Arm and OpenAI as the two engines for that goal.

4. 4

   Test on yourself before selling

   Son describes rolling out an enterprise AI product, tentatively named Cristal intelligence, across SoftBank's own business systems, including payroll, sales, inventory and engineering. Only after testing and refining it in-house does he plan to offer it to other Japanese companies.

5. 5

   Capability alone is not enough

   Son argues that processing power may translate into raw intelligence, but that intelligence without compassion and kindness can be neither trusted nor respected. He acknowledges that AI lacking empathy could pose significant risks once it surpasses humans. He says he does not believe AI will be that foolish, and that it should live alongside people as a partner.

In Masayoshi’s words

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