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SoftBank has sealed a massive $41 billion deal with OpenAI, marking a major moment in the global artificial intelligence race. The investment gives SoftBank an 11% stake in the ChatGPT maker. This deal also ranks among the largest private funding rounds ever seen in the technology sector.
The Japanese group announced that the final part of the investment would close in December 2025. This move ends months of planning and phased funding. SoftBank first invested $7.5 billion in April through SoftBank Vision Fund 2. It later added another $22.5 billion in the second phase. Along with $11 billion from other co-investors, the total funding reached $41 billion.
SoftBank Chief Executive Masayoshi Son has described this move as an 'all-in' bet on artificial intelligence. He believes AI will shape the future of every industry. Demand for computing power has surged as AI tools grow smarter and more widely used. SoftBank wants to benefit from this rapid change by backing a key player in the AI space.
OpenAI now stands at the center of global AI development. Its products include ChatGPT, business tools, consumer apps, and advanced research. The latest OpenAI investment makes SoftBank one of the company’s top shareholders. Microsoft remains the largest shareholder, while the OpenAI Foundation keeps strong governance control.
In a public statement, Masayoshi Son said that SoftBank shares OpenAI’s goal of ensuring artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity. He added that the partnership supports long-term innovation and large-scale AI growth. OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman also welcomed the deal. He said SoftBank believed in AI early and brought global scale that can help OpenAI move faster.
The funding strengthens OpenAI’s ability to invest in AI infrastructure, including data centers and advanced computing systems. Moreover, SoftBank and OpenAI are involved in the United States’ $500 billion Stargate project. This initiative intends to create an extensive and powerful AI infrastructure to meet future demand.
This investment comes shortly after SoftBank announced another major deal. The company agreed to acquire digital infrastructure investor DigitalBridge in a $4 billion deal. This move shows SoftBank’s broader plan to control key parts of the AI supply chain, including both software and hardware.
The OpenAI investment is a clear indication of the global market’s current scenario. Investors are still pouring their capital into AI, believing it is the next technological revolution, similar to the internet and smartphones. On the other hand, SoftBank’s massive investment also creates doubts. The company has lost money on previous high-risk investments, making this commitment very daring.
However, the partnership places SoftBank at the heart of the AI revolution. With an 11% stake in the ChatGPT maker, the company gains influence in one of the world’s most valuable AI firms. The move highlights SoftBank’s belief that artificial intelligence will define the next era of global technology growth.
Also Read – SoftBank Races to Deliver $22.5B to OpenAI by 2025 Amid Cash-Raising Moves
