SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son has warned that AI superintelligence could be "super dangerous," calling for international safety measures. This pivot comes just days after the company finalized a $64.6 billion investment in OpenAI. Investors are now closely watching the firm's high financial leverage and the concentration of its assets in a few AI-focused businesses.
Masayoshi Son, the chairman of SoftBank Group, issued a notable warning on October 4, 2026, at a technology forum in Kyoto. He stated that the rapid advancement of artificial superintelligence could be "super dangerous" if it falls into the wrong hands. This cautionary tone marks a shift for the billionaire investor, who has long been one of the most aggressive proponents of the AI revolution.
This warning follows the recent completion of a massive $64.6 billion total investment by SoftBank into OpenAI on October 1, 2026. This significant capital deployment has positioned SoftBank as one of the most influential entities in the generative AI ecosystem. However, the scale of this investment has turned investor attention toward how the company is funding its growth and the risks it faces.
To finance these investments, SoftBank recently issued $11.1 billion in high-yield debt. This increased reliance on borrowed money has raised concerns about the company's financial leverage. As an investment holding firm, SoftBank’s ability to manage this debt and handle potential interest rate changes remains a critical area for market analysts.
Investors are also focusing on the concentration of SoftBank's portfolio. Currently, approximately three-quarters of the group’s total asset value is tied up in just two major holdings: OpenAI and Arm Holdings. While this structure offers high exposure to the AI sector's potential, it also creates significant concentration risk. If the market value of these specific companies experiences volatility, or if their growth slows, SoftBank’s overall net asset value could be affected.
Son's call for international cooperation on AI safety highlights the growing concern over how this technology is governed globally. As regulators in various jurisdictions begin to place more scrutiny on AI safety and development, any new policies or restrictions could impact the commercial path of companies like OpenAI. Such regulatory shifts could directly influence the valuation and development timelines of the assets that underpin SoftBank’s strategy.
SoftBank is primarily listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. For those following the broader technology sector, the key monitorables include the company’s ability to service its debt obligations, the performance and valuation of its core holdings like Arm and OpenAI, and any major shifts in global AI regulations that might affect the operational landscape of these companies.