SoftBank Group and OpenAI have announced a strategic partnership to introduce AI services in Japan, with the goal of expanding globally. The joint venture, named SB OpenAI Japan, will begin by targeting Japanese businesses to establish a strong foundation before scaling worldwide.
SoftBank’s Chief Executive, Masayoshi Son, revealed that the company will dedicate 1,000 employees to the project this year to accelerate sales and engineering efforts. The partnership aims to leverage OpenAI’s advanced technology, with SoftBank committing an annual investment of $3 billion to integrate AI across its group businesses.
This initiative will operate under SoftBank Corp., the company’s domestic mobile business unit. Son emphasized that artificial general intelligence (AGI), which enables computers to perform cognitive tasks at a human level, is likely to emerge more rapidly within large corporations.
With vast financial resources and extensive data for AI training, businesses have a significant advantage in advancing AGI. A few months ago, Son predicted that AGI could be achieved in two to three years, but he now believes the timeline could be even shorter.
The collaboration between SoftBank and OpenAI is part of a broader effort to drive AI advancements. In January, SoftBank, OpenAI, Oracle, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX announced a plan to invest up to half a trillion dollars in AI infrastructure in the U.S.
Additionally, OpenAI is reportedly in early discussions to raise up to $40 billion in a SoftBank-led funding round, which could value the AI leader at approximately $300 billion.
This partnership marks a significant step in Japan’s AI development, with both companies aiming to set a model for AI implementation worldwide.