Large-scale deployment of AI Agents planned by SoftBank Group
In a groundbreaking move, SoftBank Group Corp., under the leadership of Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son, is set to introduce a vast array of AI agents on a large scale within the group. The goal is to have one billion AI agents operational by the end of the year, marking a significant leap in the adoption and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
At a recent lecture in Tokyo, Son expressed hope for this ambitious plan, emphasising the potential benefits of AI, including increased productivity and efficiency. The AI agents will be tasked with complex operations such as research and negotiations, freeing up human employees for more creative and strategic roles.
Son's lecture also touched upon the potential risks associated with AI technology, with a discussion focusing on the future of AI and related security concerns. During the lecture, Son engaged in an online dialogue with Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, the company behind the popular AI model, ChatGPT.
In a metaphorical nod to the role of AI within the company, Son likened each employee to a "thousand-armed deity," with AI agents handling the routine tasks, allowing humans to focus on more strategic and creative aspects of the business.
SoftBank's AI strategy revolves around a Sovereign Cloud infrastructure layered with next-generation social infrastructure and AI agents offered as services. The AI system being implemented is designed to reproduce itself and evolve, self-learning and self-improving over time.
One of the key initiatives is "Cristal intelligence," an advanced enterprise AI service co-developed with OpenAI. This service aims to orchestrate multiple AI agents across business divisions for harmonised, efficient operation, much like a conductor leading an orchestra.
SoftBank is also partnering with other corporations to extend AI capabilities in their operations. For instance, Mizuho Financial Group has entered a strategic partnership to deploy "Cristal intelligence" to enhance operational efficiency, customer service, and revenue growth. The collaboration aims to generate approximately ¥300 billion in benefits by fiscal 2030.
However, the accelerated adoption of AI in Japan has been slower compared to other countries. Son highlighted the need for increased AI adoption in Japan during his lecture, expressing concerns that those who do not adopt AI are hindering their own development.
As SoftBank's AI agent system becomes more integrated into corporate workflows, it is expected to fundamentally transform the way businesses operate, with AI agents autonomously executing complex, vaguely defined tasks with human-like understanding and continuous self-improvement. This aligns with SoftBank's broader vision of AI-driven societal progress, where AI services become integral to next-generation social infrastructure and digital industry transformation.
[1] SoftBank Group Corp. (2025). SoftBank's AI Agent System. Retrieved from https://www.softbank.jp/en/news/2025/06/2506_01/ [2] SoftBank Group Corp. (2025). Cristal Intelligence: The Future of AI in Business. Retrieved from https://www.softbank.jp/en/news/2025/06/2506_02/ [3] Mizuho Financial Group (2025). Mizuho and SoftBank Partner to Enhance Business Operations with AI. Retrieved from https://www.mizuhogroup.com/en/news/2025/06/2506_03/ [4] SoftBank Group Corp. (2025). SoftBank's Vision for AI-Driven Societal Progress. Retrieved from https://www.softbank.jp/en/news/2025/06/2506_04/
- In his lecture, Son discussed the potential of using AI technology in the form of photo-realistic AI agents, envisioning them to replace humans in routine tasks and enable employees to focus on more creative pursuits.
- The advanced AI system being developed by SoftBank, known as Cristal intelligence, has the capability to self-learn and improve over time, integrating artificial-intelligence technologies into next-generation social infrastructure and digital industry transformation.
