SoftBank secures $40B loan to double down on OpenAI as AI race heats up

SoftBank Group just made one of its boldest moves in years, locking in a $40 billion bridge loan as it leans harder into artificial intelligence—and into OpenAI at the center of it all.

The financing, announced Friday, ranks among the largest dollar-denominated borrowings in SoftBank’s history. The company said the funds will support its growing investment in OpenAI and cover general corporate needs. The timing is no accident. Less than a month ago, reports surfaced that SoftBank was lining up as much as $40 billion to deepen its ties with the ChatGPT maker.

For founder Masayoshi Son, this is a familiar playbook—go big when the stakes are highest. After a stretch marked by Vision Fund swings, Son is back in attack mode, placing AI at the center of SoftBank’s next chapter.

The relationship with OpenAI has moved from strategic to foundational. SoftBank has already committed $30 billion through Vision Fund 2, giving it a meaningful foothold in one of the most closely watched companies in tech. At the end of last year, SoftBank held roughly an 11% stake in OpenAI, a position that could grow in importance as the company edges closer to a public listing.

The loan itself is unsecured and runs through March 2027. It was arranged by a group of global lenders that includes JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Mizuho Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp, and MUFG Bank—a signal of how much institutional support still stands behind SoftBank’s AI push.

“The loan, which matures in March 2027, was arranged with lenders including JPMorgan Chase, Goldman ​Sachs, Mizuho Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp, and MUFG ​Bank,” Reuters reported.

OpenAI’s rise has reshaped the competitive map across software, search, and enterprise tools. Backed by Microsoft, the company has become a focal point for capital as businesses race to integrate generative AI into core products.

SoftBank is not just betting on OpenAI’s current position. It is betting on what comes next. The company has been tied to large-scale infrastructure efforts, including the Stargate Project, which aims to pour as much as $500 billion into U.S. AI infrastructure over four years. Son has already signaled plans to invest $100 billion into AI and related systems in the United States over the same period.

That level of commitment marks a shift. After years of high-profile wins followed by equally high-profile losses, SoftBank is returning to large, concentrated bets—this time with AI as the anchor.

Investor interest in OpenAI keeps building as expectations grow around a potential IPO. Reports have suggested a valuation of up to $1 trillion, placing it among the most valuable companies in the world.

For SoftBank, the $40 billion loan is more than a financing move. It is a statement about where the company sees the future—and how far it is willing to go to secure a position in it.