SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son is reportedly seeking a $16 billion loan to fuel investments in artificial intelligence (AI), according to sources cited by The Information. The Japanese tech giant is also considering an additional $8 billion loan in early 2026 to expand its AI ambitions further.
SoftBank has been aggressively increasing its footprint in AI. In January, Reuters reported that the conglomerate was in talks to invest up to $25 billion in OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. This investment would add to the $15 billion SoftBank has already committed to Stargate, an AI-focused initiative.
Previously, The Information revealed that SoftBank was targeting a total of $40 billion in investments across OpenAI and Stargate, with plans to raise up to $18.5 billion backed by publicly traded assets.
Stargate is a major AI initiative backed by SoftBank, Oracle, and OpenAI, aiming to invest up to $500 billion in ensuring the United States remains at the forefront of AI innovation. The project was unveiled at the White House in January, with key figures such as former U.S. President Donald Trump, SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison.
As competition in AI heats up globally, SoftBank’s aggressive push signals its commitment to shaping the future of the sector.
