SBI Holdings Chairman and President Kitao Yoshitaka (北尾 吉孝) discussed the prospects of success behind investing ¥500 million in the development of an AI agent for its securities business and targeting ¥2.7 billion in annual additional revenue, with company-wide AI transformation, or “AX,” using Anthropic at the center.
At the Web3 conference “WebX 2026,” Chairman Kitao Yoshitaka (北尾 吉孝) said, “Son-san has OpenAI, but I have Anthropic,” and announced in June that the company would promote a company-wide AI transformation through its partnership with Anthropic. SBI Group thereby indicated its policy of comprehensively transforming its operations around AI.
AX will be positioned at the center of the 3 foremost strategies, with thorough automation of data processing and administrative work intended to improve operational speed and accuracy. The group is also advancing the appointment of external talent, welcoming Ridge-i President Yanagihara Naofumi (柳原 尚史) as an outside director and establishing a structure overseeing the process from development through implementation in the field.
SBI Securities plans to invest ¥500 million in developing AI agents to handle customer inquiries and is expected to generate ¥2.7 billion in additional annual revenue. The aim is to promote automation across the business through the realization of a company-wide AI-driven strategy.
Chairman Kitao Yoshitaka (北尾 吉孝) indicated a policy of appointing external talent based on “individual characteristics,” and it was explained that Yanagihara Naofumi (柳原 尚史) was appointed not only for his ability and expertise but also for his suitability. Going forward, the group is expected to focus on advancing its 3 major business strategies, including the wider adoption of AI agents and the creation of a neomedia business.