SoftBank is doubling down on AI with a massive new commitment to OpenAI. The Japanese investment powerhouse has reportedly approved a second instalment of $22.5 billion, completing its planned $30 billion investment in the ChatGPT maker. This deal represents one of the largest private investments ever made in a technology company.
SoftBank's investment comes with an important condition. OpenAI must complete its corporate restructuring that would allow it to transition into a for-profit entity, setting the stage for an eventual public offering. This restructuring marks a pivotal moment for the AI firm, originally founded as a nonprofit. The move would give investors, including SoftBank, equity stakes and a clearer path toward returns from OpenAI's commercial success.
By positioning itself early, SoftBank aims to capture the long-term upside of OpenAI's dominance in the AI space.
The new instalment will complete OpenAI's $41 billion financing round that began in April. SoftBank had initially pledged $10 billion in mid-April, with another $30 billion set for later in the year. However, the second tranche was conditional. If OpenAI's restructuring failed, the total investment would have been cut to $20 billion.
The approval now signals strong confidence from SoftBank's board in OpenAI's trajectory and governance reforms. Once finalised, this funding round will significantly bolster OpenAI's valuation and liquidity, supporting expansion in enterprise AI, infrastructure, and new product lines beyond ChatGPT.
For SoftBank, this deal is a strategic reentry into the global tech spotlight. After setbacks with firms like WeWork and Vision Fund portfolio challenges, SoftBank appears determined to regain momentum by anchoring itself to the AI boom.
With OpenAI's ongoing partnerships, cloud alliances, and rapid revenue growth, the firm is positioning itself as a central player in shaping the future of intelligent computing.
If the restructuring and eventual IPO unfold as planned, this $30 billion bet could mark SoftBank's boldest and most consequential move since the Vision Fund's inception, one that could redefine its legacy in the age of AI.