SoftBank's AI Robotics Push
SoftBank's Masayoshi Son Dismisses AI Bubble, Details Major Robotics and Data Center Expansion
Key Points
SoftBank has begun mass-producing robots at its so-called 'physical AI factory' and says it will soon make an official announcement about its robotics program, claiming it is the first to manufacture robots at scale.
SoftBank is pursuing a collaboration with TEPCO to boost power supplies and bring AI data centers to Japan, signaling a path to expanded domestic AI infrastructure.
The group plans to acquire ABB’s robotics business in 2026 to position SoftBank as the world’s leading robotics company, with preparations for full-fledged AI robots.
Son pointed to SoftBank’s roughly $2 billion stake in Intel as vindication amid a rally in AI valuations, noting gains and stock-price momentum driven by other tech investments (e.g., Apple and Nvidia backing Intel).
SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son called fears of an AI bubble "blasphemy" at the company's annual shareholder meeting in Tokyo on June 24, 2026. Son told investors that AI's potential is just beginning, and that anyone calling it a bubble is committing "an insult to AI," according to Reuters.
Son used the meeting to lay out an aggressive expansion plan. SoftBank is already mass-producing robots, pursuing a deal for Japan's power grid, and targeting a $5.375 billion acquisition of ABB's robotics business in 2026 to become the world's leading robotics company, according to The Next Web.
Son Bets Big on Robots and Physical AI
Son revealed that SoftBank has started mass-producing robots at what he calls a "physical AI factory." He said the company is the first to manufacture robots at this scale. An official announcement on the robotics program is coming soon, Reuters reported. Son said the robots are built to replace humans in construction, manufacturing, and dangerous worksites.
The company signed a deal in October 2025 to buy ABB's robotics division for $5.375 billion, with the sale expected to close in mid-to-late 2026. Son framed the acquisition as a cornerstone of his push toward artificial superintelligence — a level of AI that surpasses human intelligence across all tasks, according to Guru Focus.
Intel Stake Turns Into a Massive Paper Win
Son pointed to SoftBank's Intel investment as proof his long-term bets pay off. SoftBank bought roughly 2% of Intel for about $2 billion at $23 per share in August 2025. By June 22, 2026, Intel's stock hit an all-time high of $141.45, driven by reported partnerships with Apple and Nvidia. Son said the stake has generated "several trillion yen" in paper gains.
The rally is a sharp reversal for Intel, which had long struggled. Bank of America and Mizuho analysts credited SoftBank's early entry and Intel's advanced chip packaging as key drivers of the surge. Son used the win to defend his investment style against critics who called his Vision Fund bets reckless, according to Economic Times.
Power Grid Deals Underpin Japan AI Push
Son announced that SoftBank is pursuing a partnership with TEPCO, Japan's largest electric utility, to secure power for AI data centers in Japan. AI data centers consume enormous amounts of electricity. Without guaranteed power, large-scale AI operations are not possible. The TEPCO deal would give SoftBank a domestic energy anchor for its AI ambitions, according to Head Topics.
SoftBank's energy strategy goes beyond Japan. In June 2026, Son and French President Emmanuel Macron announced a €75 billion investment in French AI data centers, targeting 5 gigawatts of capacity. For scale, the proposed Stargate project in Ohio would require power equal to roughly 10 nuclear reactors. Son has positioned SoftBank as a company that must control energy, chips, and robots — not just software.
Son Sets a $6 Trillion Target and Swats Away Critics
Son set a jaw-dropping goal: grow SoftBank's net asset value to $6.189 trillion — or 1,000 trillion yen — over the next decade, according to Guru Focus. SoftBank's total investment in OpenAI now stands at roughly $64.6 billion, giving it a 13% ownership stake. Son called OpenAI's work on AI-designed AI models the dawn of artificial superintelligence.
His sharpest critics include Elon Musk, who has argued that Stargate's backers "don't actually have the money" and that future data centers should be built in space. Son dismissed orbital data centers as "meaningless," arguing that 93% of data center costs are hardware — making cheap space power irrelevant. Son's message to shareholders was simple: the AI era is early, and SoftBank intends to own its foundation.
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