SoftBank is going all-in on AI. The Japanese investor just led OpenAI's $40 billion funding round and wants to borrow $16.5 billion more. Rating agencies are nervous.
The deal values ChatGPT's maker at $300 billion - double its worth from October. Microsoft, Coatue, Altimeter, and Thrive joined SoftBank in the round. The funding comes in two parts: $10 billion now and $30 billion by 2025.
But there's a catch. SoftBank might cut its investment to $20 billion if OpenAI doesn't turn for-profit by December. This adds heat to a conversion plan that Microsoft, California's AG, and Elon Musk are watching closely.
OpenAI's growth keeps breaking records. ChatGPT hit 500 million weekly users, adding a million users in one hour. CEO Sam Altman expects revenue to triple to $12.7 billion this year. The company just rolled out image generation in ChatGPT and launched Sora for video creation.
Meanwhile, SoftBank's shopping for a $16.5 billion bridge loan - its biggest dollar borrowing ever. The money would fund Stargate, a $500 billion US AI infrastructure project with OpenAI, Oracle, and Abu Dhabi's MGX.
Rating agencies raised red flags Tuesday. Japan Credit Rating Agency turned negative on SoftBank, citing AI risks. S&P Global warned the OpenAI bet would strain finances for up to a year.
None of this fazes Masayoshi Son, SoftBank's founder. He called AI "a defining force shaping humanity's future." Son's used to big loans - in 2017, he borrowed ¥2.65 trillion ($17.7 billion) to refinance Sprint and Arm Holdings deals.
The AI race is heating up. Google, Amazon, Anthropic, and Perplexity keep launching features, especially in AI agents. Market watchers expect generative AI to hit $1 trillion in revenue within a decade.
More investors want in. Magnetar Capital, an Illinois hedge fund, might add $1 billion to OpenAI's round. Other potential backers include Founders Fund.
OpenAI's preparing for its next phase. Altman stepped back from daily operations to focus on research and products. COO Brad Lightcap now runs the business side.
The timing's interesting. CoreWeave just became the first pure AI company to go public - though its lukewarm debut might worry others. Still, SuRo Capital's CEO hints OpenAI could test public markets "at some point."
Why this matters:
The numbers are staggering, but the real story is OpenAI's shift from nonprofit lab to potential public company - showing how money is reshaping AI's idealistic roots
SoftBank's massive bet comes with equally big risks: rating agencies wonder if Son's AI dreams might stretch his empire too thin
