Published: December 17, 2025 | Reading Time: 6 minutes
TL;DR: SoftBank is negotiating a $25 billion investment in OpenAI’s “Stargate Project”—a massive AI infrastructure initiative. SoftBank employees have already created 2.5 million internal AI agents. This is Masayoshi Son’s biggest AI bet yet.
What is the Stargate Project?
The Stargate Project is OpenAI’s initiative to build massive AI infrastructure—data centers, computing power, and
the physical resources needed to train and run next-generation AI models.
Key details:
- Investment: $25 billion from SoftBank (in negotiations)
- Purpose: AI data center infrastructure
- Timeline: Multi-year buildout
- Scale: One of the largest infrastructure investments ever
Why SoftBank is Going All-In
Masayoshi Son’s AI Conviction
SoftBank’s CEO Masayoshi Son has been vocal about AI being the defining technology of the next century. He’s called AI “the most important thing happening in technology.”
This isn’t SoftBank’s first AI bet:
- ARM Holdings acquisition (chip technology)
- Vision Fund AI investments
- February 2025 partnership with OpenAI for “Crystal Intelligence”
Internal AI Adoption
SoftBank isn’t just investing—they’re practicing what they preach. The company reported that employees have created over 2.5 million AI agents internally for various business functions.
This massive internal adoption demonstrates SoftBank’s confidence in AI productivity gains.
The Infrastructure Arms Race
The Stargate Project is part of a broader infrastructure buildout:
| Company/Investment | Amount | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| SoftBank → Stargate | $25B | OpenAI infrastructure |
| Amazon → OpenAI (AWS) | $38B | 7-year GPU deal |
| Microsoft → AI capacity | Billions | Data center expansion |
| Brookfield + Qatar | $20B | AI infrastructure JV |
| Amazon → OpenAI (equity) | $10B | Investment stake |
Total: Over $100 billion in AI infrastructure commitments in late 2025.
What This Infrastructure Enables
Bigger Models
GPT-5, GPT-6, and beyond require exponentially more compute. The Stargate Project ensures OpenAI has the resources to train the next generation of models.
Faster Inference
Running ChatGPT for 200+ million users requires massive inference capacity. More data centers mean faster responses and higher availability.
Global Reach
Data center distribution matters for latency. Users in Europe, Asia, and other regions get faster responses when compute is closer to them.
Japan’s AI Ambitions
SoftBank’s investment also fits Japan’s national AI strategy. Japan has been working to position itself as an AI hub:
- Government incentives for AI research and development
- Investments in semiconductor manufacturing
- Partnerships with U.S. and European AI companies
SoftBank, as Japan’s largest tech company, is leading this charge.
Risks and Concerns
Valuation Questions
OpenAI’s potential $500+ billion valuation is based on future growth assumptions. If AI progress slows or competition intensifies, valuations could correct.
Execution Risk
Building data centers at this scale is complex. Supply chain issues, energy constraints, and construction delays could impact timelines.
Economic Environment
A $25 billion investment assumes continued economic stability. Recession or market downturn could change the calculus.
What’s Next
The SoftBank deal hasn’t closed yet. Watch for:
- Official announcement with final terms
- Details on data center locations and timelines
- OpenAI’s updated valuation post-investment
- Potential regulatory review in multiple jurisdictions
The Bottom Line
The Stargate Project represents a fundamental belief: AI is so important that building its infrastructure is worth tens of billions of dollars.
SoftBank is betting that whoever controls AI infrastructure controls the future. At $25 billion, it’s the biggest single bet on that thesis we’ve seen.
If they’re right, this investment could define SoftBank’s legacy for decades. If AI progress stalls or competitors catch up, it could become another cautionary tale like WeWork.
The stakes—and the checks—have never been bigger.
