Japanese technology conglomerate SoftBank is reportedly looking to secure a loan of up to $40 billion, largely aimed at supporting its expanding investment in artificial intelligence company OpenAI.
The proposed financing is expected to take the form of a bridge loan with a tenure of approximately 12 months. It was reported that four lenders, including JPMorgan, are currently underwriting the facility. Discussions with banks are still underway and the terms of the loan could change as negotiations progress. Reuters said it could not immediately verify the report, and both SoftBank and OpenAI did not respond to requests for comment.
SoftBank Chief Executive Officer Masayoshi Son has significantly intensified the company’s focus on artificial intelligence in recent months, making a strong push to increase its exposure to the rapidly evolving sector. The Japanese firm had already built a substantial position in OpenAI and held roughly an 11% stake in the company by the end of last year.
The move reflects SoftBank’s broader strategy to position itself at the center of the global AI ecosystem, as competition intensifies among major technology companies investing heavily in generative AI and advanced computing capabilities.
OpenAI, the developer of the widely used ChatGPT platform, is also preparing for a potential public listing in the future. Reuters previously reported that the company has started laying the groundwork for an initial public offering that could potentially value the AI firm at up to $1 trillion, highlighting the scale of investor interest in the sector.
In February, OpenAI announced plans to raise $110 billion in a funding round that could place the company’s valuation at approximately $840 billion. The funding package is expected to include a $30 billion investment each from SoftBank and semiconductor giant Nvidia, while e-commerce company Amazon is expected to contribute around $50 billion.
If the funding plans move forward as anticipated, the investments would represent one of the largest capital infusions into an artificial intelligence company and could further accelerate OpenAI’s expansion in AI research, infrastructure, and global technology partnerships.
