TLDR: SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, alongside OpenAI’s Sam Altman, announced plans at SoftBank World to deploy one billion AI agents within the SoftBank Group this year, aiming to develop a dedicated operating system for them. This initiative underscores their belief in an insatiable demand for AI and the need for massive computing infrastructure.
At the recent SoftBank World teleconference on July 16, 2025, SoftBank Group Corp. founder Masayoshi Son outlined an ambitious vision for the future of artificial intelligence, emphasizing the deployment of a staggering one billion AI agents within the SoftBank Group by the end of the year. Son also revealed plans to develop a dedicated operating system to manage these autonomous AI agents, signaling a significant push into corporate AI applications.
Joining Son via teleconference was OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who echoed Son’s sentiments regarding the “insatiable global demand for AI.” Altman highlighted that reducing the cost of AI directly correlates with increased usage, stating that if AI becomes ten times cheaper, demand could surge by thirty times. Both leaders stressed the critical need to continuously expand computing capacity to meet this escalating demand.
The discussion also touched upon the transformative potential of robotics, with Altman envisioning a future where robots are capable of building other robots. Son further elaborated on the concept of AI agents learning independently and subsequently creating new agents to enhance overall productivity across various sectors.
This latest announcement builds upon existing collaborations between SoftBank and OpenAI. In February, SoftBank’s telecom unit and OpenAI established a 50-50 joint venture to introduce an enterprise AI product named “Cristal intelligence” to Japanese industries, including automotive and retail. As part of this strategic partnership, SoftBank’s group companies are committed to adopting OpenAI’s tools, with an annual expenditure of $3 billion on these services. Furthermore, SoftBank is reportedly considering an investment of up to $30 billion in OpenAI, contingent on the latter’s operational restructuring.
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Beyond the corporate agent system, Son’s broader AI endeavors include his involvement with Altman in the “Stargate project,” a colossal $500 billion initiative aimed at constructing extensive AI data center capacity in the United States, further solidifying SoftBank’s “all-in” approach to artificial intelligence.
