SoftBank Group Corp., under the leadership of CEO Masayoshi Son, is reportedly negotiating a $16 billion loan to bolster its investments in artificial intelligence (AI), according to sources cited by The Information. The Japanese conglomerate is also considering an additional $8 billion loan in early 2026 to further its AI ambitions.
In January, reports indicated that SoftBank was in discussions to invest up to $25 billion in OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, signaling a strategic move to deepen its involvement in the AI sector. This prospective investment would supplement the $15 billion SoftBank has already committed to Stargate, a joint venture with Oracle and OpenAI, aiming to invest up to $500 billion to maintain U.S. leadership in AI amidst global competition.
The Stargate project, announced in January by President Trump alongside leaders from SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle, is designed to enhance AI infrastructure and capabilities in the United States. SoftBank’s substantial financial commitments underscore its strategic focus on AI as a pivotal area for future growth and innovation.
These developments come amid SoftBank’s efforts to recover from a reported $2.4 billion loss in the fiscal third quarter, attributed to valuation declines in its Vision Funds. Despite these setbacks, SoftBank’s aggressive investment strategy in AI reflects CEO Masayoshi Son’s vision of positioning the company at the forefront of technological advancement.