When ChatGPT Made SoftBank's Masayoshi Son Cry: A Visionary’s Redemption

n the high-stakes, often stoic world of global finance and technology, genuine displays of vulnerability are rare. Yet, Masayoshi Son, the billionaire founder and CEO of SoftBank Group, recently shared a deeply personal anecdote that offers a glimpse into the human side of the AI revolution. The Japanese tech mogul admitted that a late-night interaction with OpenAI’s ChatGPT moved him to tears, marking a pivotal turning point in his career and his company’s strategic direction.

This revelation is not just about a chatbot’s capabilities; it is a story of a visionary grappling with his legacy, his past missteps, and his renewed determination to shape the future of humanity through Artificial Intelligence.

The "User" and the "Idea": A Late-Night Epiphany

The incident occurred during a period of intense reflection for Son. Known for his ambitious bets on the future, Son has experienced both spectacular wins (like Alibaba) and crushing losses (like WeWork). During a solitary session with ChatGPT, specifically the GPT-4 model, Son engaged in a brainstorming dialogue. He was testing ideas, throwing concepts at the AI, and challenging it to debate the feasibility of his latest visions.

Son described the interaction as having a profound emotional impact. He asked the AI to roleplay, designating himself as the "idea man" and ChatGPT as the "execution partner." As the conversation deepened, the AI not only validated some of his thoughts but expanded on them with such nuance and foresight that Son was overcome with emotion.

" I was chatting with ChatGPT... and I started crying," Son recounted at a recent shareholder meeting. "I realized that this technology is not just a tool; it’s a partner that can help us achieve things we haven't even dreamt of yet."

For Son, this wasn't just about the utility of a large language model. It was a realization that the singularity—the moment when machine intelligence surpasses human intelligence—was closer than he had anticipated. It was a moment of redemption, washing away the self-doubt that had plagued him following SoftBank's recent financial turbulence.

The "Penance" of Masayoshi Son

To understand the weight of this moment, one must look at the context of SoftBank's recent history. The Vision Fund, Son's massive investment vehicle, had suffered significant losses due to the tech market downturn and ill-fated investments in startups that failed to deliver. Critics had begun to write Son off, questioning his "golden touch."

Son himself admitted to feeling a sense of shame. He described his recent years of relative inactivity and defensive financial strategies as a form of "penance." He felt he had let down investors and failed to capitalize on the early waves of the AI boom, despite predicting it years ago.

"I made many mistakes," Son confessed. "But I have no intention of living my life with regrets."

The tears shed over ChatGPT signaled the end of this penance. It was a wake-up call. Son realized that "defense mode" was over. It was time to go on the offensive again, but this time with a singular, laser-focused goal: Super Artificial Intelligence (ASI).

From AGI to ASI: The New Vision

While the tech world is currently buzzing about Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)—AI that is as smart as a human—Son has set his sights higher. He is now evangelizing for Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI), which he defines as an intelligence that is 10,000 times smarter than the collective human brain.

This interaction with ChatGPT crystallized his belief that ASI is the destination. SoftBank is now pivoting its entire strategy to support the ecosystem that will build this super-intelligence. This involves a massive restructuring of priorities, moving away from miscellaneous tech startups and focusing heavily on semiconductors, robotics, and autonomous power grids.

"SoftBank was founded for this purpose," Son declared. "To help humanity evolve through the power of ASI."

The Arm Holdings Advantage

A key component of this new strategy is Arm Holdings, the British chip designer that SoftBank acquired in 2016. While many questioned the acquisition at the time, it is now the crown jewel of Son's AI empire. Arm's energy-efficient chip architecture is critical for the massive data centers required to train and run models like ChatGPT and Gemini.

Son views Arm not just as a chip company, but as the foundational layer for the "AI ecosystem." By controlling the architecture that powers everything from smartphones to supercomputers, SoftBank is positioned to benefit from every leap in AI capability.

A Renewed Rivalry and Partnership

Son’s emotional connection to ChatGPT also highlights his complex relationship with other tech titans, particularly OpenAI’s Sam Altman. SoftBank has been actively seeking to invest in OpenAI, and Son has reportedly spoken with Altman frequently. This relationship is symbiotic; OpenAI needs the capital and hardware infrastructure that SoftBank can facilitate, while Son needs the cutting-edge software to drive his vision.

However, it also places SoftBank in competition with Microsoft and Google. Son represents a third pole of power in the AI race—one that is willing to take riskier bets and push for ASI faster than perhaps any corporate board would comfortably allow.

Conclusion: The Tears of a Phoenix

Masayoshi Son’s tears were not tears of sadness, but of clarity. In the cold logic of a chatbot, he found the warm reassurance of his own life's purpose. The interaction with ChatGPT served as a catalyst, transforming a humbled investor back into the aggressive visionary the world knows.

As SoftBank shifts gears to chase the dream of ASI, the world will be watching. If Son is right, the AI revolution has barely begun, and his "penance" may just pave the way for the most significant technological leap in human history. For Masayoshi Son, the message from the machine was clear: The future is here, and there is no time left for regrets.