SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son announced on Monday a partnership with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to launch a AI joint venture in Japan. The new entity, SB OpenAI Japan, will provide AI services to corporate clients. OpenAI and a SoftBank-established company, along with its telecom arm, will own the venture. Additionally, SoftBank will invest $3 billion annually to integrate OpenAI’s technology across its group companies.
Masayoshi Son is strengthening his ties with OpenAI as SoftBank considers investing $15 billion to $25 billion in the company. Additionally, SoftBank is committing $15 billion to Stargate, a joint venture with OpenAI and Oracle, to expand AI capacity in the U.S. Last month, Son attended the Stargate launch, marking his second appearance with Donald Trump since the November election.
China’s DeepSeek is raising concerns among investors about the massive AI investments, as its model rivals top U.S. companies. “The world is going to just need so much compute,” said Sam Altman.
Masayoshi Son’s support for OpenAI signals his return as a major investor after setbacks from SoftBank’s declining tech portfolio and past missteps. He has a strong track record of partnering with U.S. tech firms, including bringing the iPhone to Japan in 2008. On Monday, Son and Altman also met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Key Takeaways | SB OpenAI Japan
SoftBank and OpenAI Partnership – SoftBank and OpenAI have launched SB OpenAI Japan to provide AI services, with SoftBank committing $3 billion annually to integrate OpenAI’s technology.
Major AI Investments – SoftBank is considering a $15–$25 billion investment in OpenAI and has committed $15 billion to the Stargate AI project with OpenAI and Oracle.
Son’s Strategic AI Push – Masayoshi Son is reestablishing himself as a key AI investor, strengthening U.S. partnerships while addressing rising competition from China’s DeepSeek.
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