As OpenAI’s dominant place faces challenges, SoftBank Group (SBG), OpenAI’s largest investor, introduced that it’s “dedicated to supporting OpenAI.” This assertion is interpreted as reaffirming a stable partnership with OpenAI whereas in search of to dispel the factitious intelligence (AI) bubble principle.
Yoshimitsu Goto, chief monetary officer (CFO) of SoftBank Group, mentioned in an interview with Nihon Keizai Shimbun on Dec. 3, “Even amongst formidable opponents, (OpenAI) is working on the prime,” including, “As OpenAI’s largest supporter, we will likely be dedicated to offering help.” He additionally said, “There isn’t a risk of investing in different corporations creating generative AI fashions equivalent to Google or Anthropic.”
This assertion attracts consideration because it comes amid OpenAI’s technological management being challenged, with Google’s Gemini 3 surpassing ChatGPT 5.1 in efficiency evaluations. Sam Altman, OpenAI’s chief govt officer (CEO), just lately issued a Code Pink inside the firm, directing deal with ChatGPT development and consumer expertise enchancment. OpenAI additionally introduced the acquisition of Polish AI startup Neptune AI, an organization that creates software program to assist uncover issues that come up whereas supervising and analyzing the coaching means of AI fashions.
SoftBank Group has invested or dedicated to speculate $34.7 billion in OpenAI to date. Its funding stake reaches roughly 11%. Chairman Masayoshi Son revealed in final month’s earnings announcement that he bought all NVIDIA shares for $5.83 billion (roughly 8 trillion gained), stating, “We would have liked more cash to spend money on OpenAI and different tasks.” Not too long ago, he countered AI bubble theories, saying, “It’s silly to ask whether or not AI is a bubble.” He predicted, “Throughout the subsequent 10 years, AI will account for 10% of the world’s gross home product (GDP),” including, “In financial phrases, it’ll attain $20 trillion yearly.”
Boosted by the “OpenAI all-in” technique, SoftBank Group reached its highest inventory value since itemizing in October this yr, with market capitalization surpassing 40 trillion yen. Nevertheless, inventory costs have been lower in half from their peak instantly after Gemini 3’s launch. CFO Goto mentioned, “At present, analysis of AI expertise isn’t clear,” and “With folks investing from numerous views now, calling it a bubble is untimely.”
SoftBank Group plans to actively spend money on information facilities, energy grids, and semiconductors as effectively. CFO Goto mentioned, “If facility funding accelerates progress pace, the restoration of our AI-related investments may even speed up.”
