SoftBank is eyeing a collaboration with OpenAI as Son plans a deal spree following Arm’s IPO, the Financial Times reports
The OpenAI logo can be seen in this image from February 3, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire License Rights
Sept 16 (Reuters) – SoftBank (9984.T) is looking for artificial intelligence (AI) deals, including a possible investment in OpenAI, following the blockbuster listing of its Arm unit, the Financial Times reported on Saturday.
SoftBank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son wants to invest tens of billions of dollars in AI, the newspaper said, citing two people familiar with Son’s thinking.
Son said in June that his tech investment conglomerate planned to shift its stance to “attack mode” amid excitement over advances in AI.
According to FT, the Japanese technology investment firm could also seek a comprehensive strategic partnership with ChatGPT maker OpenAI.
According to the report, SoftBank is also exploring a number of alternatives to OpenAI, including a preliminary approach to purchasing Graphcore, a UK-based AI chip maker.
Chip designer Arm secured a valuation of $54.5 billion in its initial public offering (IPO) in the United States on Wednesday, seven years after SoftBank took the company private for $32 billion.
SoftBank, OpenAI and Graphcore did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
Reporting by Lavanya Ahire in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Kanjyik Ghosh in Bangalore; Edited by William Mallard and Mark Potter
Our standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Comments are closed.