SoftBank Group Corp.’s planned $4 billion acquisition of DigitalBridge marks a decisive step in strengthening the global backbone required for the AI-driven economy. The move reflects SoftBank founder masayoshi Son long-held belief that artificial intelligence will reshape industries at unprecedented scale demanding massive investments in compute power, connectivity, energy, and scalable digital infrastructure.

“As AI transforms industries worldwide, we need more compute, connectivity, power, and scalable infrastructure,” Son noted, positioning the deal as a foundation-building exercise rather than a short-term play. With AI workloads growing exponentially, data centres and digital infrastructure have become mission-critical assets, and this acquisition places SoftBank at the centre of that transformation.

DigitalBridge will continue to operate as an independent entity under CEO Marc Ganzi, subject to regulatory approvals. Ganzi described the AI infrastructure buildout as “one of the most significant investment opportunities of our generation,” highlighting the strong strategic alignment between the two organisations.

Together, SoftBank and DigitalBridge aim to accelerate the development of next-generation AI data centres and digital platforms, supporting enterprises, hyperscalers, and governments as they scale AI adoption globally. The deal underscores a broader shift: AI leadership will increasingly be defined by who owns and operates the infrastructure powering it.