Masayoshi Son, the maverick behind SoftBank (SFTBY, Financial), is back with another headline-grabbing promise: a $100 billion investment in U.S. projects over the next four years, unveiled in a joint announcement with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. This mega-deal, focused on artificial intelligence and infrastructure, comes with a bold pledge to create 100,000 jobs before Trump's term ends. Sound familiar? That's because it echoes Son's 2016 commitment, which promised $50 billion and 50,000 jobs—but this time, the stakes are doubled. SoftBank's funds might come from a mix of existing resources like its Vision Fund and recent AI plays, including a $1.5 billion check to OpenAI.
Here's the kicker: delivering on this promise won't be easy. SoftBank's first Vision Fund, while groundbreaking, was marred by flops like WeWork (WEWKQ, Financial) and Katerra, scaring off outside investors. Son is betting big on AI again, a sector he calls a “gold rush,” with plans to invest in data centers, chip manufacturing, and tech he believes will hit human-level intelligence within a few years. But skeptics are already raising eyebrows. High-profile promises like Foxconn's $10 billion Wisconsin project—remember that?—ended up falling far short of expectations. Could this new pledge end up as another case of overpromise, underdeliver?
For investors, this announcement is equal parts opportunity and risk. Trump, eager to flex his economic muscle, has fast-tracked incentives for billion-dollar investments, making the U.S. fertile ground for tech giants. But the scale and timing of SoftBank's plan leave room for doubt. Will this be the beginning of an AI revolution in the U.S., or just another lofty vision that struggles to materialize? Either way, it's clear Son and Trump are playing a high-stakes game—and the market will be watching closely.
