Mizuho SoftBank AI Partnership 300B Yen Deal

TOKYO, Japan — Mizuho Financial Group Inc. and SoftBank Corp. have formed a strategic partnership to explore the use of artificial intelligence in financial services.

Mizuho Financial Group is set to introduce "Cristal intelligence," an AI system co-developed by SoftBank and OpenAI. 

The system is designed to integrate and customize corporate systems and data, according to statements from both companies.

The companies have set a target of achieving JPY 300 billion in operational improvements by fiscal year 2030, measured against 2024 levels.

Mizuho plans to more than double its sales productivity, cut low-value tasks in half, and enhance contact center efficiency by 50 percent.

The AI-powered system will analyze transaction data and market trends, giving corporate customers round-the-clock access to financing solutions and management advice.

The companies said that human financial professionals will be available for consultation when clients require additional support or advice on important decisions.

Mizuho President Masahiro Kihara and SoftBank President Junichi Miyakawa will lead the collaboration.

The companies plan to combine Mizuho's data and financial expertise.

Looking ahead, the companies plan to create a finance-focused large language model built on "Sarashina," a Japanese-language AI under development by SB Intuitions Inc., a SoftBank subsidiary.

Cristal intelligence, as defined by the company, connects corporate systems and data, empowering AI agents with long-term memory to process historical records, identify trends, and deliver real-time insights for smarter management.

Both companies aim to expand AI adoption throughout the financial industry, transforming user experiences and driving productivity gains.

The industry is transforming user experiences and improving productivity.