SoftBank reportedly seeks up to $100B from Gulf investors for AI fund

SoftBank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son is reportedly seeking up to $100 billion from Gulf investors, including senior figures in the United Arab Emirates, for a fund to acquire companies and overhaul their operations with AI and other advanced technologies, potentially including robotics. The talks are preliminary, the amount is an upper target rather than a confirmed commitment, and SoftBank has not confirmed the reports. The proposal follows SoftBank’s major OpenAI investment and a large high-yield bond sale to help finance its AI push. A Gulf-backed acquisition fund would expand SoftBank’s approach beyond investing directly in technology companies, while giving Gulf investors exposure to AI-led business transformations. The fundraising comes amid questions about SoftBank’s growing exposure to AI and Son’s capacity to keep investing; analysts also note that the fund’s financing structure and the amount ultimately raised could affect how investors assess SoftBank.