SoftBank is going big on artificial intelligence (AI). The Financial Times reports that SoftBank is in talks to invest up to $25 billion in OpenAI as part of a broader partnership that could see the Japanese conglomerate spend more than $40 billion on AI initiatives with the Microsoft-backed startup.
SoftBank and OpenAI have had an interesting relationship, particularly with SoftBank’s involvement in tech investments and OpenAI’s focus on AI.
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SoftBank, a major player in the tech investment world through its Vision Fund, has shown an interest in AI-related projects. Though not directly tied to OpenAI’s development, SoftBank has invested in several AI and tech companies that may complement OpenAI’s work.
For example, SoftBank’s investments in robotics like Boston Dynamics and AI-driven companies could overlap with OpenAI’s research into language models and other advanced AI technologies.
There have been discussions and collaborations around the broader development of AI, with both companies being involved in advancing the field in their own ways. SoftBank’s massive portfolio of investments in various sectors including tech, telecom, and AI, means they’re often indirectly connected to emerging startup initiatives like OpenAI.
SoftBank plans to invest $15 billion to $25 billion directly into OpenAI in addition to its $15 billion Stargate commitment, the report said. OpenAI will invest around $15 billion in Stargate, with SoftBank’s equity investment potentially covering OpenAI’s infrastructure commitment.
Earlier this week, a Chinese startup shook the western market with its latest AI offering, DeepSeek. The company claimed that DeepSeek was developed within a budget of $6 million, which makes it a much more viable choice than its western counterpart OpenAI.
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SoftBank Group, founded in 1981 by Masayoshi Son, is a global conglomerate known for its investments in technology and telecommunications. It operates through various subsidiaries, including SoftBank Corp. and the Vision Fund, which has made some of the world’s largest tech investments. The Vision Fund, with its multi-billion-dollar capital, has backed notable companies such as Uber, Slack, and WeWork.