SoftBank Seeks $30bn Stake Surge in OpenAI
Japan’s technology and investment conglomerate SoftBank is planning an additional large-scale investment in OpenAI as part of its efforts to further strengthen its position in the artificial intelligence sector. According to a Reuters report, the company is in discussions to invest up to $30 billion more in OpenAI.
A source familiar with the matter said the proposed investment would be part of a potential fundraising round through which OpenAI could raise around $100 billion in total. If completed, the fundraising could value the AI company at approximately $830 billion.
SoftBank had earlier completed a $41 billion investment in OpenAI in December, which raised its ownership stake in the company to around 11 percent.
Analysts believe SoftBank founder and Chief Executive Masayoshi Son views artificial intelligence as the core technology of the future and has adopted an “all-in” strategy centred on OpenAI.
Meanwhile, OpenAI is facing mounting financial pressure as costs continue to rise for training and operating advanced AI models. At the same time, competition with rivals such as Google is intensifying.
Both SoftBank and OpenAI are investors in the “Stargate” initiative, a large-scale AI data centre project in the United States. The initiative is seen as strategically important for keeping the US ahead in the global AI race.
DBTech/BMT/OR
