SoftBank CEO says he's 'all in' on OpenAI, reveals he's long wanted Microsoft's spot as main backer

Masayoshi Son, the CEO of SoftBank, has declared the company's full commitment to OpenAI, emphasizing the multinational's ambition to achieve 'artificial superintelligence.' During a recent announcement, Son revealed that SoftBank is significantly increasing its investments in OpenAI, with a staggering total of approximately 4.8 trillion Japanese yen (around $33.2 billion) earmarked for the venture, despite the company being unlisted and currently unprofitable. Son expressed his firm belief that OpenAI will eventually go public and could emerge as the world's most valuable company. He acknowledged, however, the inherent risks associated with investing in such pioneering technology, stating, "It takes bravery to invest" in a company like OpenAI. Interestingly, Son shared that even before 2019, OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman had approached him with a proposal for a $10 billion investment from SoftBank. Although Son was ready to commit, the partnership ultimately went to Microsoft, which became the exclusive provider of computing resources for OpenAI. Recently, reports have emerged suggesting tensions between Microsoft and OpenAI, particularly after Microsoft lost its exclusive cloud provider status earlier this year. Reflecting on the past, Son hinted that Altman might have been better off selecting SoftBank as a partner. While he acknowledged Microsoft’s advantages at the time, such as its extensive global supply chains and technical expertise, he remains confident in SoftBank's potential role in the AI landscape. In March, SoftBank indicated that it might scale back its $30 billion investment in OpenAI if the company doesn't transition to a for-profit model by the end of the year. Despite these challenges, Son reaffirmed his commitment to OpenAI, stating that SoftBank will strengthen its ties with the AI company regardless of Microsoft’s position. He envisions SoftBank becoming a leading platform provider for artificial superintelligence within the next decade, aspiring to shape the industry during this transformative era. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of SoftBank’s partnership with OpenAI, alongside its acquisition of Arm, a British semiconductor company, as crucial to achieving these ambitious goals. SoftBank has also made headlines this year with its $6.5 billion acquisition of U.S.-based chip designer Ampere, further underscoring its dedication to advancing AI technologies.