SoftBank in Talks to Invest Up to $25 Billion in OpenAI
SoftBank is reportedly in discussions to invest up to $25 billion (approximately ₹2,16,450 crore) in OpenAI, the owner of ChatGPT, as part of its ongoing push into the artificial intelligence (AI) sector. The potential investment, which could range from $15 billion (₹1,29,880 crore) to $25 billion, is expected to support OpenAI’s collaboration with the Stargate venture and help fund OpenAI’s operations.
Stargate, a joint initiative between Oracle, OpenAI, and SoftBank, aims to secure the U.S.’s position in the global AI race, with plans to invest up to $500 billion (₹43,28,620 crore). This new funding is separate from the $15 billion SoftBank has already pledged to Stargate.
SoftBank’s potential investment comes after reports of new competition from the Chinese startup DeepSeek, which has disrupted markets with a low-cost AI assistant. Despite this, SoftBank’s shares surged following the Stargate project announcement, although they have since dropped by over 12 percent.
SoftBank’s CEO Masayoshi Son has gained board approval at OpenAI for this substantial stake, which would add to the $1.5 billion investment made by SoftBank in 2024. OpenAI was valued at $157 billion in its most recent funding round, making it one of the most valuable private companies globally.
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