SoftBank Posts Surprise Quarterly Profit on OpenAI Gains as AI Bet Deepens

7 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · May 13

SoftBank reported a surprise quarterly profit after valuation gains on its OpenAI stake offset weak returns across the rest of its investment portfolio.
OpenAI again drove the result, reinforcing SoftBank’s confidence to deepen its AI strategy even as Middle East conflict rattled broader markets.
That reliance is growing after SoftBank’s Vision Fund booked a $46 billion annual gain largely from OpenAI, following more than $30 billion invested in the startup.
The concentration also raises risk: OpenAI faces stronger competition from Anthropic and Google and is reportedly running below its highest internal targets.

Is SoftBank's $65B OpenAI bet a visionary move or a reckless gamble against a ticking 12-month IPO clock?

Can OpenAI's costly models survive against rapidly improving and much cheaper Chinese AI alternatives?