SoftBank Collaborates with OpenAI to Launch AI Tools for Corporations in Japan

SoftBank Ventures Deeper Into AI With Strategic Partnership and $3 Billion Commitment

SoftBank Group’s CEO Masayoshi Son is expanding his relationship with OpenAI through a new joint venture in Japan aimed at offering AI services to corporate clients.

The venture, named SB OpenAI Japan, will see both companies collaborate to provide OpenAI’s technology to businesses across Japan, a move that aligns with Son’s goal to reshape the country’s tech landscape.

Translation:

Softbank and OpenAI will establish a joint venture called "SB OpenAI Japan" with each party holding 50% of the investment, and will promote AI innovation in major companies from Japan!!!

Apparently it was just signed lol

A Bold $3 Billion Annual Investment

SoftBank is committing a significant financial stake to this partnership.

The company will invest $3 billion each year to leverage OpenAI’s AI tools within its own subsidiaries and portfolio companies.

This includes exclusive access to OpenAI’s enterprise products, such as ChatGPT Enterprise and various agent products, which are set to reshape how Japanese companies engage with AI.

Son is also preparing to invest between $15 billion and $25 billion in OpenAI as part of a larger funding effort, which could place SoftBank ahead of even Microsoft in backing the AI leader.

This comes shortly after reports that OpenAI is in discussions to raise up to $40 billion, with SoftBank poised to become the top investor.

SB OpenAI Japan Will Lead the Charge in AI for Corporations

The new joint venture, SB OpenAI Japan, will be controlled by OpenAI and a SoftBank-formed entity, including SoftBank’s telecom arm.

Through this partnership, the two companies plan to offer powerful AI solutions tailored to Japan’s corporate needs.

These solutions include custom models, APIs, and future agent tools like “Deep Research,” which will conduct multi-step analysis on the web.

With access to OpenAI’s technology, SoftBank’s own mobile arm—Japan’s third-largest wireless carrier—plans to market OpenAI’s services in Japan and develop its own Japanese-language chatbot.

This venture is not just about software; it is part of SoftBank’s wider ambition to expand Japan’s presence in the AI and tech sectors.

Son’s Vision for AI and Enterprise Growth

Masayoshi Son has long been an advocate for AI, frequently criticising Japanese businesses for being slow to adopt the technology.

He has warned that those who fail to embrace AI risk being left behind, comparing them to goldfish unable to process information.

He is confident that artificial general intelligence (AGI), AI with capabilities that equal or surpass human intelligence, will be realised within the next decade.

Son believes large enterprises will be the first to achieve AGI, stating that this will require “quite a huge amount of money,” resources that are mostly available only to large companies.

Stargate: The $100 Billion AI Project

The new venture is just one part of SoftBank’s broader ambitions in AI.

The company has also committed $15 billion to the Stargate project, a collaboration with OpenAI and Oracle aimed at building AI infrastructure in the United States.

This massive project plans to invest $100 billion immediately and aims for a total expenditure of at least $500 billion over the next four years.

Son’s involvement in Stargate also signals a strong partnership with global figures like US President Donald Trump.

The initiative seeks to rapidly enhance computing power to support AI’s growth and ensure the United States remains at the forefront of AI development.

Challenges for Japan in the Tech Race

Japan has faced its own set of challenges when it comes to keeping up with global tech trends.

Son has repeatedly stated that Japan cannot afford to miss out on the next wave of AI development, warning that the country cannot afford “another three decades” of stagnation.

Japan’s reliance on expensive imported resources like oil and gas, alongside public concerns over nuclear power after the 2011 Fukushima disaster, has complicated efforts to modernise its economy.

These constraints leave Japan in a precarious position as global tech giants like OpenAI lead the charge in AI development.

The Global Competition Heats Up

The partnership between SoftBank and OpenAI comes at a time when the competition in the AI industry is intensifying.

DeepSeek, a new Chinese startup, has quickly gained traction in the U.S. market, offering AI models trained at a fraction of the cost of their competitors.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the rising competition, pointing out that the success of DeepSeek highlights the need for democratic AI development.