Message from our Chief Sustainability Officer (CSusO)
—SoftBank Group Report 2026

SBG’s corporate philosophy envisions a future in which we contribute to humanity and society through the Information Revolution. Today, as the core of the Information Revolution shifts to AI, we believe that the evolution and social implementation of AI will help address social and environmental challenges. For example, the introduction of physical AI has the potential not only to improve operational efficiency and productivity at worksites, but also to help address social challenges such as labor shortages and the transfer of highly specialized skills and expertise that typically require many years to develop. In addition, the use of AI models in healthcare could support the provision of preventive care and medical services tailored to each individual, and is expected to improve people’s health and quality of life.

We are investing in platforms for the ASI era that will serve as the foundation for such advancement of AI. In addition to AI models and physical AI, AI chips and AI infrastructure, including data centers and power infrastructure, are also key elements. Through investments in the foundations that support the advancement of AI, we aim to contribute to societal progress and the creation of new value.

At the same time, the increasing sophistication of AI presents challenges, including rising electricity consumption at data centers. It is important to develop and utilize highly efficient AI chips that enhance AI processing capabilities while reducing power consumption. In addition, as some AI data centers may use significantly larger volumes of water for cooling than conventional data centers, it is necessary to appropriately manage their environmental impacts, including those on water resources. The use of AI also requires high ethical standards and appropriate governance. It is essential to maximize the opportunities created by the advancement of AI while appropriately managing environmental impacts and social risks, thereby ensuring that AI development remains aligned with sustainability. SBG will continue to appropriately assess these risks not only when making investments, but also through ongoing post-investment monitoring, thereby contributing to sustainable value creation through its investment activities.

As CSusO, I believe that substantial actions require us to consider both future growth opportunities and risks while integrating sustainability perspectives into our business. I also consider it an important part of my role to ensure reliable disclosures by communicating these initiatives and outcomes accurately and transparently to investors and other stakeholders. We are also steadily preparing to respond to the SSBJ Standards^*1 in the Annual Securities Report for the fiscal year ending March, 2027, in close collaboration with Group companies.

We believe that SBG’s sustainability lies in contributing to the evolution of society through the Information Revolution and, ultimately, to the happiness of people. Looking ahead to the ASI era, we will continue to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society by balancing investments for the future with responsible business activities.