Core Viewpoint - SoftBank Group, led by Masayoshi Son, is actively pursuing investments in artificial intelligence and robotics, including a $5 billion loan for further investment in OpenAI and a $5.375 billion acquisition of ABB's robotics business, which has significantly boosted its stock price and market valuation [1][2][4]. Group 1: Investment Activities - SoftBank Group is negotiating a $5 billion loan with global banks to enhance its capital reserves for further investments in OpenAI [1]. - The company has agreed to acquire ABB's robotics division for $5.375 billion, abandoning ABB's previous plan to spin off the business into a separate entity [2][3]. - Following the announcement of the ABB acquisition, SoftBank's stock surged over 13% on October 9, reaching a historical high, with a market capitalization exceeding 34 trillion yen [1][2]. Group 2: Market Impact - The acquisition of ABB's robotics business is seen as a strategic move to integrate robotics with artificial intelligence, marking a significant expansion for SoftBank after a period of business contraction [2][4]. - SoftBank's stock has increased nearly 300% over the past six months, driven by market enthusiasm for AI-related stocks [2]. Group 3: Future Strategies - Son stated that SoftBank's next frontier is "physical AI," aiming to merge advanced AI with robotics technology to drive transformative changes [4]. - The acquisition is expected to be completed by mid-2026, generating approximately $5.3 billion in cash for ABB, which will be used for organic growth, acquisitions, and shareholder returns [3]. Group 4: Broader AI Initiatives - SoftBank is also collaborating with Oracle to provide sovereign cloud and AI services in Japan, launching a new cloud service suite to support critical infrastructure [6]. - The company plans to invest £1 billion (approximately $1.3 billion) in India through its subsidiary Graphcore, establishing a new R&D hub in Bangalore [6][7].
AI,大消息!