Softbank unveils AI plans with PayPay, ChatGPT, OpenAI investments after $19B Q2 gain

Softbank has unveiled plans to continue pushing into AI with investments in PayPay, ChatGPT, and OpenAI, helping it gain $19 billion on its Vision Fund in Q2. The Japanese conglomerate is investing in or acquiring firms that will fortify its presence in ASI (Artificial Super Intelligence) and robotics.

Softbank stated in its earnings statement on November 11 that it plans to invest an additional $22.5 billion in OpenAI through its Vision Fund 2 in December. Last month, the company reportedly approved its final tranche of funding to complete its $30 billion investment in OpenAI. 

Softbank gained $14 billion (~¥2.157T) in the quarter from its investment in OpenAI. It disclosed that AI revenue reached new highs in the quarter ended September 30, with 93% of annualized growth.

The Japanese giant also said today that it will conduct a four-for-one stock split at the end of the year. Softbank hopes to make its shares more accessible to investors, thereby expanding its investor base. The company’s shares have surged 140% in 2025 as its tech investment arm has shown signs of recovery.

However, a $50 billion market cap wipeout from the company’s stock sent jitters through global markets last week. 

OpenAI’s gain more than doubles Softbank’s Q2 profit

The Japanese company announced on November 11 that its Q2 net profit more than doubled to $16.6 billion (~¥2.5T) due to valuation gains in its OpenAI holdings. The company’s Vision Fund segment also posted over ¥3.5 trillion in investment gains. The gain was primarily driven by the group’s ChatGPT holdings, which totaled ¥2.16 trillion for the quarter. The result reportedly coincided with a bull run in tech stocks that has seen Softbank’s share price skyrocket to new highs.

Meanwhile, LSEG previously surveyed three analysts who estimated an average net profit of ¥207 billion for the July-September quarter, which the company exceeded. Softbank’s profit also surpassed the ¥1.18 trillion profit over the same period in 2024. 

“The reason we were able to have this result is because of September last year, that was the first time we invested in OpenAI.” 

–Yoshimitsu Goto, CFO of Softbank

The Japanese conglomerate has been a major beneficiary of OpenAI’s rapid growth as the wave of investment in AI infrastructure continues to gain momentum. Goto believes that OpenAI’s latest valuation milestone of $500 billion is one of the largest in the world.

However, investors are reportedly concerned about the AI bubble. There are concerns that the substantial sums allocated to AI projects may not yield the high profits necessary to justify the investments.  

Softbank raises funds to fuel AI investments

Masayoshi Son, Softbank’s founder and CEO, previously stated that he was fully committed to OpenAI and AI-related projects in general. He hopes to be part of the biggest platform provider of artificial super intelligence in the next 10 years. Son is allegedly experienced in making leveraged bets on transformative technologies, but he has a mixed track record.

SoftBank is reportedly in the midst of massive AI investments since launching the Vision Fund vehicles in 2017 and 2019, and it is in need of additional funding. The Vision Fund’s value had risen to over $4.8 billion in Q1 of 2025.

Last month, Softbank dumped all its 32.1 million Nvidia shares for $5.83 billion. It also secured an $8.5 billion bridge loan for its OpenAI investment and arranged an additional $6.5 billion bridge loan for its acquisition of the semiconductor design firm Ampere. 

The company has also issued bonds in three currencies since the beginning of April, worth $2.2 billion, €1.7 billion, and ¥620 billion, respectively. The hybrid notes are recorded as interest-bearing debt despite having similar characteristics to equity. 

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