SoftBank Commits $32B to OpenAI, Eyes Global AI Leadership

SoftBank Group (TYO:9984) is positioning itself as a global leader in the artificial superintelligence (ASI) era, with CEO Masayoshi Son stating the company’s ambition to become the central platform provider for ASI within the next decade. Speaking at the annual shareholder meeting on Friday, Son emphasized SoftBank’s strategic vision to "organize the industry" as AI surpasses current capabilities.

In a significant move, SoftBank disclosed a new investment agreement with OpenAI, bringing its total commitment to $32 billion, including previously planned funding. This investment builds on a prior pledge of up to $40 billion, valuing OpenAI at $300 billion, and establishes SoftBank as one of its most prominent backers.

Son also expressed his belief that OpenAI will eventually go public, signaling confidence in the firm’s long-term growth potential. In addition to its OpenAI investment, SoftBank is taking a leading role in the ambitious $500 billion "Stargate" initiative. The project aims to construct cutting-edge AI and robotics infrastructure in the U.S. and includes major partners such as Oracle (NYSE:ORCL), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), and MGX.

SoftBank and OpenAI are the primary drivers behind Stargate, with SoftBank assuming key financial responsibilities. The bold investments are part of Son’s broader strategy to dominate the future of AI technology.

Shares of Tokyo-listed SoftBank (OTC:SFTBY) were trading nearly 3% higher by 03:23 GMT, reflecting investor optimism amid strong buying in Japanese markets.

These developments underscore SoftBank’s aggressive AI expansion and its pivotal role in shaping the future of artificial superintelligence platforms worldwide.