Softbank bets big on perplexity ai in japan

SoftBank Corp. inked a deal with Perplexity on 17 March 2025, stepping up as the first authorized reseller of Perplexity Enterprise Pro, a move that’s got Japan’s tech scene buzzing. They’re unleashing a 7,000-strong sales army to push this AI-powered search tool into corporate offices nationwide, building on six months of internal testing that pitted it against rivals. “It’s a game-changer,” Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas posted on X, and you can almost hear the hum of Tokyo boardrooms gearing up for a shake.

This isn’t SoftBank tossing dice—it’s a calculated swing. After rolling out Perplexity Pro free to Y!mobile and LINEMO users last June, they’ve seen it click—internally, it’s cut through data fog like a blade. Now, with Japan’s finance, manufacturing, and healthcare giants in their sights, SoftBank’s pitching Enterprise Pro’s tricks: deep research, internal doc syncing, SOC2-grade security. I imagine a Nagoya factory boss, buried in reports, finding answers fast—productivity’s the bait, and SoftBank’s got the hook.

The tie-up’s roots run deep—SoftBank’s $25 billion stake in OpenAI and a $3 billion Cristal Intelligence deal show they’re all-in on AI. Japan’s a tough nut—market entry’s a slog for outsiders—but SoftBank’s 40-year telecom clout opens doors. Posts on X cheer the scale; Srinivas calls it a “milestone” for Perplexity’s global push, already live in Korea, Germany, France. This is Japan’s AI moment colliding with SoftBank’s muscle, and the ripples are just starting.