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SoftBank's Masayoshi Son to Unveil AI-Driven Medical Care Plans in Japan
SoftBank Group Corp’s founder, Masayoshi Son, is poised to unveil his ambitious plans for integrating AI into Japan’s healthcare system. In a rare public appearance, Son will lead a panel discussion with healthcare professionals on utilizing AI within their industry, as announced by SoftBank.
Son's renewed enthusiasm for artificial intelligence follows his recent statements about his vision to introduce “artificial super intelligence” and leave a transformative legacy. He expressed his emotional drive to make a significant global impact before his time is done, drawing inspiration from his interactions with the late Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Jobs.
In this upcoming discussion, significant focus will be placed on SoftBank’s collaboration with Tempus AI Inc., a U.S. startup that specializes in medical data analysis. This venture represents one of SoftBank’s strategic moves in the AI sector, highlighting Son's renewed investment vigor. SoftBank invested approximately $200 million in Tempus AI shortly before its public offering and established a joint venture named Pegasos Corp., with a projected investment of ¥30 billion ($188 million) to deliver similar services in Japan.
Kirk Boodry, an analyst with Astris Advisory, suggests this marks the beginning of increased AI investments. He predicts SoftBank will contribute an additional $94 million into their Japanese endeavor, which will offer services such as clinical sequencing and patient data management, aiming to build a comprehensive “real world data business in Japan.”
The agreement for joint venture capitalization hinges on various stipulations, including the establishment of a concrete business plan and operational budget, independent valuations of Tempus-licensed technology, and regulatory approvals from authorities in both the U.S. and Japan. Training of an AI model on patient data is set to commence this year, with the goal of launching the service within one to two years, as reported by Nikkei.
Long term, Son envisions even grander projects. SoftBank is reportedly planning a $100 billion investment in AI-related chips, under a project named Izanagi, aiming to cement its position as a leader in AI technology.
