Japanese investment giant SoftBank is reportedly in talks to secure a massive loan of up to $40 billion, with the bulk of the funds earmarked to fuel its deepening commitment to OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT.
According to a Bloomberg News report on Friday, the bridge loan would carry a term of roughly 12 months. Four major lenders, including JPMorgan, are expected to underwrite the facility, though details remain subject to change.
The move underscores CEO Masayoshi Son’s aggressive “all in” strategy on artificial intelligence. SoftBank has steadily ramped up its position in OpenAI, holding an estimated 11% stake in the company by the end of last year.
The fresh capital injection comes as OpenAI lays the groundwork for a future public offering. Reuters exclusively reported last year that the firm is eyeing an IPO that could eventually value it at up to $1 trillion. More immediately, the company is in the midst of a blockbuster funding round expected to raise $110 billion, a valuation that would land at roughly $840 billion.
That round reportedly includes significant contributions from SoftBank and U.S. chipmaker Nvidia, each pledging $30 billion, alongside a $50 billion commitment from e-commerce titan Amazon.
For SoftBank, the potential $40 billion loan represents a high-stakes gamble on the future of AI—and a clear signal that Son is betting the house on OpenAI’s continued dominance.
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