Masayoshi Son will continue as the top executive of SoftBank Group Corp. for another 10 to 15 years [1].
The announcement signals a long-term commitment from the company's founder during a critical pivot toward artificial intelligence. By postponing his retirement, Son ensures that the firm's aggressive strategy to dominate the AI landscape remains under his direct control.
Son said this during SoftBank Group’s regular shareholders’ meeting held in Tokyo on June 24, 2024 [1]. The 68-year-old executive said to attendees that he intends to work through his 70s to see his vision realized [1, 2].
Central to Son's extended tenure is the pursuit of “artificial superintelligence” [2]. He said he wants to be the best in the world in this endeavor. To support this goal, Son plans to expand AI data-center capacity within Japan [2].
A key component of this expansion involves securing a partnership with TEPCO to increase power availability for these facilities [2]. The infrastructure is necessary to sustain the high energy demands of advanced AI processing.
Son’s decision to remain at the helm reflects his belief that the current technological shift requires a steady, long-term hand. He said he will work hard for the next decade or more to ensure the company leads the global AI race [1].
“I will work hard for another 10 or 15 years.”
Son's decision to extend his leadership by over a decade removes the immediate uncertainty of a succession plan, which often causes volatility in public companies. However, it also ties SoftBank's future inextricably to Son's personal risk appetite. His focus on 'artificial superintelligence' and domestic infrastructure suggests SoftBank is shifting from a diverse investment holding company to a specialized AI infrastructure play, leveraging Japan's energy grid to compete with U.S. tech giants.
