SoftBank Group (OTC:SFTBF) (OTC:SFTBY) is reportedly negotiating a potential investment of $15 billion to $25 billion in OpenAI. This move could make SoftBank the largest investor in the ChatGPT creator, surpassing Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), which has invested nearly $14 billion.
What Happened: The investment would support OpenAI’s commitment to the Stargate AI infrastructure project, a joint venture with companies like SoftBank, Oracle Corp. (NYSE:ORCL), and the UAE’s MGX fund, reported the Wall Street Journal, citing a person familiar with the matter.
Stargate plans to invest up to $500 billion in AI data centers over the next four years. SoftBank’s funding for OpenAI would be separate from its planned $15 billion investment in the Stargate initiative.
Despite the potential investment, SoftBank would hold a smaller stake in OpenAI’s for-profit division compared to Microsoft, due to the latter’s earlier investments, the report noted
Why It Matters: Last year, OpenAI’s valuation surged to $157 billion following a $6.6 billion funding round. At that time, the Tokyo-based conglomerate SoftBank invested $500 million in OpenAI.
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Elon Musk’s xAI has also quickly expanded, reaching an estimated valuation of $50 billion in 2024.
Perplexity AI, supported by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in December raised $500 million in a funding round, boosting its valuation to $9 billion.
Anthropic, backed by Google, is also reportedly in late-stage discussions to secure $2 billion in funding, which would push its valuation to $60 billion.
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