SoftBank Approves $22.5 B Installment to Complete OpenAI Investment

The Japanese investment giant SoftBank Group has approved a second payment of $22.5 billion to fulfil its planned $30 billion investment in OpenAI, according to a report by The Information. The promise of the final instalment is linked to OpenAI completing a corporate restructuring that would transform the AI company’s legal status and pave the way for a possible public offering. This deal forms part of a broader financing round that values OpenAI at around $500 billion in the private market.

Under the terms, SoftBank originally pledged $10 billion earlier in the year. The remaining amount, including the $22.5 billion, was scheduled for December and depends on the transformation of OpenAI from its current nonprofit-linked structure into a for-profit model. If OpenAI fails to complete the restructuring, SoftBank’s total contribution would drop to about $20 billion.

This funding boost underscores SoftBank’s aggressive push into the AI space, led by its founder Masayoshi Son, and positions OpenAI alongside rival powerhouses in the race for dominance in generative AI. For OpenAI, the capital will help accelerate model training, infrastructure expansion and product development. However, the company faces a critical moment: its future hinges on restructuring and gaining investor confidence while managing governance concerns tied to its shift in ownership and mission.

Industry analysts note that this type of conditional funding reflects the high stakes and large capital requirements of advanced AI development. The move also signals that AI companies may increasingly need both deep pockets and structural flexibility to thrive. The success of this transaction could reshape how major investors engage with AI platforms and set new benchmarks for valuations in the sector.