[ITmedia Business Online] Why did Sumitomo Mitsui FG decide to invest 100 billion yen in AI when it still didn't know what would happen?

In May 2026, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (FG) announced that it would invest 100 billion yen over the next three years to utilize generative AI. In addition to improving operational efficiency through AI, the company aims to change existing business models such as bank lending and asset management.

"We don't know what we're going to win, so let's just try different things."

That's what Group CEO Tatsu Nakajima says. AI is evolving rapidly, and it is difficult to accurately predict what it will look like in the next few years. However, the reason behind the expansion of investment is that the company wants to take on challenges from an early stage and use this to gain competitiveness in the future. What do you think about how to create an organization to advance the use of AI and the role of humans in the AI ​​era?

CEO Nakajima: ``I am confident that business will look different in five years''

Sumitomo Mitsui FG operates businesses such as cards, securities, leases, and trusts, with a focus on banking. Overseas business is also expanding, with approximately 70,000 of the group's 130,000 employees working overseas.

Mr. Nakajima states that the group's long-term goal is to "become the top player in Japan and a player with a global presence." To achieve this, we will emphasize the use of technology, including AI.

In November 2024, the company announced an investment limit of 50 billion yen for generative AI. Subsequently, the investment amount was increased to 100 billion yen.

"We really don't know what AI will be like in five years. However, we are almost certain that the way we do business five years from now will be completely different due to AI. If that's the case, I thought we should take action as soon as possible and try it out first."

Currently, more than 100 AI projects of a certain size are underway. It is said that it is still at the stage of determining the extent to which individual efforts will lead to results.