Search AI Products and News

Since 2021, OpenAI employees and former employees have cumulatively cashed out nearly $3 billion through equity sales. This number is remarkable, especially in the tech industry where frequent stock sales are not common. SoftBank became the largest buyer in this transaction, purchasing almost half of the shares, further solidifying its position in the field of artificial intelligence. OpenAI holds two equity sales per year, with a significantly higher frequency than many tech companies. The original intention of this practice was to provide employees with the opportunity for financial freedom, thereby retention.

Tech media The Information reported that since 2021, employees and former employees of the artificial intelligence giant OpenAI have collectively cashed out nearly $3 billion through multiple stock sales. For a company only six years old, such a large-scale employee wealth realization is rare, even approaching the level of employees at Elon Musk's SpaceX. The report revealed that Japan's investment giant SoftBank has become the largest buyer of OpenAI employee shares. This spring, SoftBank purchased shares from a small group of current and former employees.

Recently, SoftBank and Intel have jointly developed a new AI-specific memory chip aimed at significantly reducing power consumption to provide more efficient support for Japan's AI infrastructure. According to Nikkei Asia, the goal of their cooperation is to design a new type of stacked DRAM chip. The wiring method of this chip will be different from the popular High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) on the market, expected to reduce power consumption by about 50%. Image source note: The image was generated by AI, and the image rights service provider is Midjourney.

OpenAI's "Stargate Project," a joint initiative with Oracle and SoftBank, is reportedly considering international expansion, specifically targeting the UK, Germany, and France. Initially designed to bolster US artificial infrastructure with a total budget of $500 billion, the project is now rumored to be taking steps towards global markets. Image note: Image generated by AI, licensed through Midjourney. The Stargate Project is currently evaluating the feasibility of overseas expansion.

Amidst the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, a significant strategic deployment concerning the future AI infrastructure is quietly unfolding. Sources reveal the UK is emerging as a prime contender to host a new overseas AI infrastructure project jointly developed by OpenAI and SoftBank, a development that has captured significant attention within the global tech community. This massive data center initiative, dubbed Stargate, boasts a staggering $500 billion investment, representing a colossal undertaking in the history of AI infrastructure. Although the project will initially be entirely based in the US,

OpenAI has announced one of history's largest private funding rounds, securing a staggering $400 billion. This investment catapults the company's valuation to an astounding $3 trillion. Led by SoftBank Group, the round also included participation from early investors such as Microsoft, Coatue, Altimeter, and Thrive. Image Note: Image generated by AI, image licensing provider Midjourney. In OpenAI's official blog post, the company stated that this new capital will enable them to...

OpenAI is pursuing a massive $400 billion funding round, led by Japan's SoftBank, with a crucial condition: OpenAI must transition to a profitable company by the end of 2025. Success would propel the company's valuation to $300 billion, making it the reigning AI unicorn. However, securing this funding isn't guaranteed. Failure to meet the deadline would slash the funding to $200 billion.

Bloomberg reports that OpenAI is nearing a $400 billion funding agreement led by SoftBank, potentially valuing the company at $3 trillion. This would be the largest funding round in the AI industry, marking a significant milestone for OpenAI and highlighting the rapid growth and investor interest in the sector. Participants include SoftBank Group, Magnetar Capital, Coatue Management, and Founders Fund.

According to a recent Bloomberg report, OpenAI is close to finalizing a massive $40 billion funding round led by SoftBank, marking the largest funding round in the history of the AI industry. This funding is expected to significantly boost OpenAI's valuation to approximately $300 billion, nearly double its valuation in October 2023. SoftBank will be the lead investor, initially committing $7.5 billion, with several other investment firms participating, including Magnetar Capital.

SoftBank Group Corp., the Japanese technology investment firm, announced it will acquire server-class chip designer Ampere Computing for $6.5 billion. This move marks another significant step in SoftBank's push into artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing. Ampere Computing's major investors, including Oracle and Carlyle Group, also divested their stakes in the deal. Ampere focuses on multi...

Japan's tech scene is far from over. SoftBank's multi-billion yen gamble is shaking things up! A former Sharp LCD panel factory, once a symbol of Japan's manufacturing prowess, is getting a spectacular makeover. It's set to become a cutting-edge data center, the driving force behind SoftBank and OpenAI's groundbreaking AI initiatives. Image note: Image generated by AI, licensed through Midjourney. This data center is no ordinary facility; it will be the powerhouse running the advanced AI agents jointly developed by SoftBank and leading AI innovator OpenAI.

A major transformation is underway in Japan's display industry. Sharp Corporation, once a giant in large LCD panel production for televisions, completely ceased production at its Sakai Display Products Corporation (SDP) in 2024, marking the end of an era for large-size LCD panel manufacturing in Japan. However, the once-dormant factory is poised for a new life. According to the Nikkei Shimbun, SoftBank Group officially signed an agreement this Friday to invest approximately 100 billion yen (approximately 4.877 billion yuan) to acquire this Sharp facility in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture.

Artificial intelligence is disrupting the content creation industry at an unprecedented rate. Once the exclusive domain of resource-rich film studios, production houses, and media giants, high-quality content production is being democratized. Recently, AI-powered video editing platform OpusClip secured $20 million in funding from SoftBank Vision Fund 2, boosting its valuation to $215 million. This significant investment clearly signals a rewriting of the rules for digital content creation and distribution. As an AI video editing platform, OpusClip...

According to Reuters, citing sources and a report by The Information, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son is reportedly planning to borrow $160 billion for investments in artificial intelligence (AI). The report states that company executives confirmed this intention during talks with banks last week. This move signals SoftBank's continued expansion in the AI sector, particularly amid intensifying global tech competition. Beyond the planned $160 billion, SoftBank is projected to have...

Japanese tech group SoftBank recently released its financial report, revealing a massive $2.4 billion loss over the past period. This loss primarily stemmed from poor performance of its Vision Fund investment portfolio. Despite facing challenges, SoftBank indicated its intention to make substantial investments in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), reflecting confidence in future technological trends. The latest financial report highlighted significant impairment of the Vision Fund's value, with many investment projects not meeting expectations. This situation has placed substantial financial pressure on SoftBank, as well as spurring market concerns.

Recently, SoftBank Group's founder Masayoshi Son, accompanied by former US President Donald Trump, officially launched an artificial intelligence project named the 'Gateway to the Stars.' This initiative is expected to invest over $500 billion, aiming to build multiple data centers and related infrastructure. Facing such a massive funding requirement, Masayoshi Son is actively seeking suitable financing methods. Reports indicate that SoftBank is currently considering a financing approach known as project financing, which is commonly seen in the oil and gas sector and can support the construction of large infrastructure projects.