Japan’s technology conglomerate SoftBank Group is seeking a loan of up to $40 billion to help finance its growing investment in OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT.
According to Bloomberg, the proposed financing would mark one of the largest borrowing deals ever undertaken by the Japanese investment giant. The funds are expected to primarily support SoftBank’s deepening stake in the U.S artificial intelligence company as the global race to dominate AI technology intensifies.
SoftBank has already invested more than $30 billion in OpenAI and holds about an 11 per cent stake in the company as of late 2025, making the AI developer one of the conglomerate’s largest investments.
The potential loan underscores SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son’s aggressive strategy to position the firm at the centre of the artificial intelligence boom. Over the past year, SoftBank has dramatically increased its exposure to the AI sector, selling some assets and redirecting capital toward companies developing advanced computing systems and generative AI technologies.
OpenAI itself has become one of the most sought-after investments in the technology industry. The company recently secured a massive funding round worth about $110 billion from investors including Amazon, Nvidia and SoftBank, valuing the AI firm at roughly $840 billion and highlighting intense investor demand for AI infrastructure and software.
For SoftBank, the proposed loan reflects both opportunity and risk. The company has long been known for making bold technology bets from early investments in internet giants to its massive Vision Fund venture portfolio. However, analysts say the scale of its AI commitments now represents a new level of financial concentration.
Industry observers note that OpenAI is quickly becoming one of the core pillars of SoftBank’s investment strategy, alongside its majority stake in chip designer Arm Holdings. As artificial intelligence reshapes industries ranging from healthcare to finance, companies that control foundational AI models and computing infrastructure are expected to command enormous strategic value.
Yet the financing structure also raises questions about leverage and financial exposure. Large-scale borrowing to fund technology investments could amplify returns if the AI boom continues. But it also increases risk should market enthusiasm cool or if expected revenue from AI applications takes longer to materialise.
The move highlights how the global AI race is increasingly driven by enormous capital requirements. Training advanced AI models, building data centres, and developing specialised chips require tens of billions of dollars in funding, forcing even the world’s largest technology investors to rely on complex financing arrangements.
If the loan proceeds, it would further cement SoftBank’s position as one of the most influential financial backers of the AI revolution and deepen its ties to OpenAI as the company expands products such as ChatGPT and other enterprise AI systems.
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