SoftBank has moved artificial intelligence to the centre of its long-term strategy, significantly increasing its exposure to the sector over the past few years. A key part of that shift is its growing stake in OpenAI, which has already resulted in substantial unrealised gains.
AI-related investments accounted for about 18% of SoftBank’s net asset value three years ago. That figure has now climbed to more than 60%, reflecting a decisive portfolio transformation. The company is effectively aligning its future with the continued expansion of AI technologies.
SoftBank has invested $34.6 billion in OpenAI, securing roughly an 11% ownership stake. This includes a $22.5 billion follow-on investment completed in December 2025. As OpenAI’s valuation rose from approximately $150 billion in late 2024 to around $500 billion by October 2025, the value of SoftBank’s holding increased accordingly.
The group reported a $14.6 billion gain in the fair value of its OpenAI stake in one quarter, followed by an additional $4.2 billion gain in the next reporting period. While these gains remain unrealised, they illustrate how central OpenAI has become to SoftBank’s overall financial performance. Reports suggest the company may commit another $30 billion at a valuation of $850 billion.
Expanding Across the AI Infrastructure Stack
SoftBank’s approach goes beyond investing in AI software. It is also building positions in the hardware and infrastructure that support AI systems.
The company completed a $6.5 billion acquisition of semiconductor designer Ampere Computing, strengthening its exposure to advanced chip development. It has also announced plans to acquire the robotics division of ABB Robotics for about $5.4 billion, alongside a $3.1 billion deal involving digital infrastructure investor DigitalBridge.
Through DigitalBridge, SoftBank gains indirect exposure to data centre operator Switch and other hyperscale infrastructure assets. These investments position the company across multiple segments of the AI supply chain, from semiconductors to data storage and connectivity.
In addition, SoftBank is expanding infrastructure projects such as Stargate. In partnership with OpenAI and its subsidiary SB Energy, the group is developing a 1.2 gigawatt data centre in Texas and entering into long-term agreements designed to support increasing AI computing requirements.
Although concerns have been raised about the pace of data centre expansion, SoftBank executives maintain that existing capacity is insufficient to meet growing AI demand. They have also acknowledged that future technological breakthroughs could alter infrastructure needs.
For now, SoftBank continues to concentrate capital across AI models, chips, robotics and infrastructure, positioning itself as a long-term participant in the sector’s development rather than a short-term investor.
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