SoftBank, OpenAI Announce New AI Joint Venture

SoftBank Group and OpenAI have announced the launch of a new joint AI venture, ”SB OpenAI Japan”, which will offer artificial intelligence (AI) services to corporate clients in Japan.

This collaboration aims to leverage OpenAI’s cutting-edge technology while focusing on the specific needs of the Japanese market.

The joint venture will be co-owned by OpenAI and a new company formed by SoftBank and its telecom division. As part of the agreement, SoftBank will commit to paying $3 billion annually for OpenAI’s technology, which will be integrated across SoftBank’s subsidiaries.

This venture is also part of SoftBank’s larger strategy to invest heavily in AI, with reports suggesting the company is considering an investment of between $15 billion and $25 billion in OpenAI.

The new company, SB OpenAI Japan, will offer businesses access to Cristal intelligence, an advanced AI platform designed to enable clients to securely train their data in a private environment while building AI agents that seamlessly integrate with their IT systems. This platform is expected to drive AI adoption across Japanese enterprises, helping them become more competitive in the global market.

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This announcement further strengthens SoftBank’s position in the AI sector, following its previous setbacks in tech ventures. CEO Masayoshi Son’s strategic investments in AI come after a period of reorganisation in the company’s portfolio. SoftBank’s past successes, such as introducing the iPhone to Japan in 2008, set the stage for its current ambitions in AI.

The launch of SB OpenAI Japan also ties into the broader Stargate project, which is a collaborative effort between OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank. This project focuses on building AI infrastructure in the U.S., with plans to expand globally, offering further international prospects for the new venture.

This development comes amid growing competition from China’s DeepSeek, a company offering affordable AI solutions that are beginning to disrupt the industry. The collaboration between SoftBank and OpenAI is seen as a significant move to counterbalance these competitive pressures and solidify their leadership in the AI space.