SoftBank currently owns roughly 11% of OpenAI after a $22.5 billion investment late last year, making it one of the company’s largest shareholders.

Industry observers see this possible round as a major shift in AI finance, signaling a trend toward mega-rounds and secured compute capacity.

The broader context includes a rising macro and geopolitical backdrop and the potential spillover effects on markets and AI crypto assets as capital concentrates around infrastructure-heavy AI bets.

If realized, the round would be among the largest in corporate history, reflecting unprecedented capital flowing into AI compute, talent, and leadership.

The strategic aim is for SoftBank to lead in AI infrastructure, backing data centers and projects like Stargate and DigitalBridge to boost OpenAI's compute power.

Analysts highlight pressure from rivals like Google DeepMind and Anthropic, while SoftBank’s leadership frames AI as a transformative force across industries.

The market reacted positively to the reports, with SoftBank’s stock rising measurably in Tokyo on the news.

OpenAI’s valuation and funding trajectory remain closely watched, given revenue growth, high compute needs, and the broader capital dynamics around AI infrastructure.

SoftBank is negotiating a fresh, multi-billion-dollar investment in OpenAI, aiming to participate in a round that could total up to $100 billion for the AI leader.

Negotiations are ongoing and terms could change as discussions proceed, with neither SoftBank nor OpenAI commenting publicly yet.

OpenAI faces rising training and operating costs amid growing competition, underscoring why a mega-round could be pivotal for sustaining growth and leadership.

Prism, OpenAI’s free scientific tool built on GPT-5.2, underscores the company’s push to embed AI into scientific workflows rather than replace researchers.