The global AI industry's investment landscape has once again received a major development. According to sources, Japanese investment giant SoftBank Group has officially fulfilled its $4 billion investment commitment to OpenAI. It is reported that SoftBank paid the final payment of approximately $22 billion to $22.5 billion last week, completing this landmark investment.

Previously, SoftBank had made investments through multiple channels, including raising a $10 billion syndicated loan and directly investing $8 billion in OpenAI. With the full $4 billion in funds now in place, SoftBank's current stake in OpenAI has successfully exceeded 10%.

This major transaction was first reported this February, when OpenAI's pre-deal valuation reached as high as $260 billion. According to the agreement between both parties, the funds were to be paid in installments over 12 to 24 months. It is reported that one of the key uses of this funding is to support the "Stargate" AI infrastructure joint project. This project, led by OpenAI in collaboration with Oracle and SoftBank, aims to address the growing demand for computing power.

To take the initiative in the AI wave, OpenAI has planned to invest more than $140 billion in infrastructure over the next few years. In addition to SoftBank, OpenAI is backed by giants such as Microsoft and Disney, and it has been reported that Amazon is also exploring the possibility of an investment exceeding $10 billion. Currently, this startup, which gained popularity through ChatGPT, is in a critical phase of preparing for an IPO.

Key Points:

  • 💰 Full Investment: SoftBank has paid the final payment of approximately $22 billion, completing its total $4 billion investment commitment to OpenAI, with a stake exceeding 10%.

  • 🏗️ Investment in Infrastructure: This funding will focus on supporting AI infrastructure projects such as the "Stargate" initiative, to address the significant computing power demands faced in large model development.

  • 🚀 Competition Among Giants: OpenAI's valuation has reached $260 billion, and it is preparing for an IPO while continuing to attract support from global top-tier capital, including Microsoft, Disney, and potential investor Amazon.