SoftBank Group Corp. and OpenAI have announced a joint venture aimed at developing and selling AI services to businesses across Japan. This collaboration represents a significant step in bringing OpenAI’s cutting-edge tools to enterprise customers outside the US.
The partnership, which will operate through SoftBank's telecom arm, SoftBank Corp., involves a 50-50 collaboration between SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The venture plans to hire 1,000 employees from SoftBank to market OpenAI products across various sectors, including automotive and retail. SoftBank's group companies are set to invest approximately $3 billion annually in OpenAI's offerings.
This initiative highlights SoftBank's growing influence in the global AI landscape, alongside its involvement in the $100 billion Stargate project aimed at enhancing AI infrastructure in the US. Son emphasized the importance of robust AI development, indicating that the company is committed to investing heavily to not miss out on the next technological wave.
As Japan seeks to regain its footing in the tech arena, this partnership could catalyze advancements in AI, making it a pivotal player in the global market.