SoftBank Talks About AI’s Future, New Healthcare JV And Perplexity Investment

In the last few years, artificial intelligence (AI) has seen tremendous advancements, leading to its widespread adoption by businesses of all sizes.

It’s no surprise too, since AI technology and AI-powered tools brings in multifaceted benefits, including boosting productivity, reducing costs, increasing turnaround time, enhancing processes, streamlining operations, fostering innovation and more.

In addition to this, the last couple of years have been dominated by the brilliant, innovative and creative capabilities of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI).

This too captivated the corporate world, as it brought about the ability to create or generate large text bodies, code, images, videos, music and more, all with simple text prompts.

However, researchers and even businesses are already looking at the next step in the evolution of artificial intelligence.

For some that’s artificial general intelligence (AGI), which gives machines the ability to think like human beings.

For Masayoshi Son, the CEO of SoftBank Group Corp. and an avid promoter of the AI industry, it’s the iteration beyond AGI - artificial super intelligence (ASI).

So, what did the leader of the Japanese multinational investment holding company say about AGI and ASI? Let’s explore!
 

What Did SoftBank Group’s CEO Masayoshi Son Say About ASI?

 

• According to reports, SoftBank Group’s CEO, Masayoshi Son, AI will soon surpass human intelligence capabilities, as he believes artificial general intelligence (AGI) that’s 10 times smarter than the average human will come in by 2030.

• This advancement will revolutionize life as we know it.

• Ahead of this, Son spoke about the emergence of artificial superintelligence (ASI) in 2035, which would be a whopping 10,000 times smarter than human intelligence.

• Son’s thoughts about AGI and ASI align with that of OpenAI’s former chief scientist, Ilya Sutskever, who recently launched his own venture, Safe Superintelligence Inc. (SSI), along with Daniel Levy and Daniel Gross.

• However, while SoftBank is looking to push ASI within the technology industry, SSI’s focus is on safety.

• While the scientific community is still divided on the feasibility and capabilities of AGI and ASI, Son’s taken the mission to heart, saying, “SoftBank was founded for what purpose? For what purpose was Masayoshi Son born? It may sound strange, but I think I was born to realize ASI. I am super serious about it.”

At the same time, Son’s SoftBank is taking concrete steps to boost the GenAI industry, as it steps up its interest in Perplexity AI

 

What Is SoftBank Group’s Plan With Perplexity AI?

 

• As per a report by Bloomberg News, SoftBank Group’s Vision Fund 2 is set to invest between $10 million and $20 million in GenAI-focused startup Perplexity AI, at a valuation of $3 billion.

• The investment comes as a part of a larger $250 million funding round that will see the AI startup’s valuation triple, making it one of the most valuable companies in the industry.

• People familiar with the matter, who wished to remain anonymous as the discussions aren’t public, mentioned that the deal and its terms aren’t finalized yet and could be subject to changes.

• SoftBank and Perplexity did not comment on the deal.

While the deal with Perplexity is being kept under wraps and can differ than what’s reported, SoftBank has made more moves that are official.
 

What Is SoftBank Group’s New Joint Venture With Tempus AI About?

 

• As per a press release published on its website, SoftBank announced that it has formed a new joint venture with Tempus AI, Inc., a leader in AI and precision medicine.

• The newly established venture, which was agreed in May 2024 and is subject to customary closing conditions, will be called SB TEMPUS.

• Once closed, both parties will invest ¥15 billion ($93 million) each, taking the capital stock to ¥30 billion ($186 million).

• This adds to the near $200 million SoftBank had already invested in Tempus in a series G funding round earlier this year.

• The idea of the JV is to “provide precision medicine services in Japan” and enhancing healthcare in Japan by leveraging AI and the expertise and technology Tempus accumulated in the United States.

• Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group, said, “We are very pleased to establish a joint venture in Japan with Tempus to contribute to the advancement of healthcare. By promoting the advancing personalized medicine using AI, I strongly hope to reduce people's sorrow and increase the happiness of as many people as possible.”

• Eric Lefkofsky, Founder and CEO of Tempus, said “At Tempus, we are dedicated to transforming the landscape of precision medicine through the practical application of artificial intelligence. Partnering with SBG allows us to expand our reach and bring our AI-enabled solutions to the Japanese market.”

• [Contd.] “Together, we aim to ensure that patients benefit from personalized, data-driven therapies in an effort to help them live longer and healthier lives.”

Do you think these moves by SoftBank will help it propel its ASI dream? Do you think it should explore partnerships with other AI industry-leading companies?

Let us know in the comments below!