SoftBank, a Japanese technology investment firm, has increased its stake in OpenAI to approximately 11% following the completion of the second stage of its $41 billion investment in the company behind ChatGPT. This significant investment underscores SoftBank’s strategic pivot towards artificial intelligence (AI), a sector its founder, Masayoshi Son, believes holds immense potential for growth and impact.
The investment, announced in April with a planned value of up to $40 billion, has now reached $41 billion. This includes $30 billion from SoftBank’s Vision Fund and an additional $11 billion from other third-party co-investors. The move reflects SoftBank’s commitment to AI, particularly in the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI), which refers to the next stage of AI where computers could potentially outperform humans in various tasks.
Masayoshi Son, SoftBank’s founder, expressed his alignment with OpenAI’s vision of ensuring AGI benefits humanity as a whole. This sentiment is echoed by OpenAI’s chief, Sam Altman, who praised SoftBank’s early recognition of AI’s potential and its commitment to the technology’s impact on a global scale. Altman noted that SoftBank’s leadership and scale will accelerate the development and dissemination of advanced intelligence worldwide.
In addition to its investment in OpenAI, SoftBank is also involved in the $500 billion Stargate project, alongside Oracle, aiming to build AI infrastructure in the United States. This project was announced by President Donald Trump in January 2025 and signifies a substantial commitment to AI development and infrastructure.
Furthermore, SoftBank has announced the acquisition of US data centre investor DigitalBridge in a deal valued at approximately $4 billion. This acquisition highlights SoftBank’s expanding interests in digital infrastructure, complementing its investments in AI and technology.
The significant investment in OpenAI and the acquisition of DigitalBridge demonstrate SoftBank’s strategic focus on AI and digital technologies. As the world moves towards greater integration of AI in various sectors, SoftBank’s moves position it as a key player in the global AI landscape. With its increased stake in OpenAI, SoftBank reinforces its commitment to the development and ethical application of AI, aiming to ensure that these technologies benefit humanity broadly.
