SoftBank Group is reportedly considering an additional investment of up to $30 billion in OpenAI, signaling growing confidence in the artificial intelligence sector. The talks come as OpenAI seeks to raise as much as $100 billion in new funding to expand research, strengthen infrastructure, and attract top talent.
The potential deal highlights how major investors now view AI as a long-term strategic asset, similar to how early backers once approached cloud computing or smartphones.
SoftBank Deepens Its OpenAI Commitment
According to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal, SoftBank already owns around 11 percent of OpenAI as of December 2025. That stake followed a massive funding effort, including a $22.5 billion investment completed last year. If the new talks result in a deal, SoftBank would further cement its role as one of OpenAI’s largest and most influential supporters.
CEO Masayoshi Son has made artificial intelligence a core focus of SoftBank’s strategy. Furthermore, the company previously reduced its Nvidia holdings to help fund earlier OpenAI commitments, showing how serious it is about AI leadership.
Why OpenAI Needs Massive Capital
OpenAI’s fundraising push stands out as one of the boldest in the tech industry. Competition in generative AI continues to rise, and building advanced models requires enormous computing power. Therefore, deep financial backing has become essential.
OpenAI plans to use new funds to support several key areas:
- Expansion of AI infrastructure and data centers
- Continued research into artificial general intelligence
- Global growth and enterprise partnerships
- Retention and hiring of elite AI researchers
The company is also exploring funding from Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds and traditional venture capital firms. An initial public offering remains a possible future option.
SoftBank’s possible $30 billion follow-up investment reflects a wider capital race among global investors seeking exposure to AI. While discussions remain fluid, the move shows how high the stakes have become. If finalized, the deal would underline OpenAI’s position at the center of the AI boom and confirm that investor appetite for artificial intelligence remains strong.
