SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle to Launch $500 Billion AI Investment Initiative

In a major announcement, SoftBank Group Corp., OpenAI, and Oracle Corp. will establish a new company dedicated to investing at least $500 billion in artificial intelligence infrastructure across the United States. This initiative, known as the Stargate Project, aims to generate a significant number of jobs in the technology sector, as stated by President Donald Trump during a press conference.

Scheduled to unfold over the next four years, the Stargate Project will focus on developing new AI infrastructure specifically for OpenAI, which is renowned for its popular AI chatbot, ChatGPT. At the White House event, Trump described the project as "the largest AI infrastructure project by far in history," emphasizing its role in shaping the future of technology while acknowledging the competitive landscape posed by China.

Trump noted that this investment initiative would take place entirely within the United States, expressing confidence that it would create over 100,000 jobs for American workers. According to a joint statement from the involved companies, the project is not only aimed at re-industrializing the U.S. economy but also at enhancing national security capabilities for the country and its allies.

The announcement of this massive investment plan follows previous discussions between Trump and SoftBank's CEO, Masayoshi Son, in which it was revealed that SoftBank had committed to investing $100 billion in U.S. projects, particularly in AI and other emerging technologies, over the next four years. During the press conference, Son remarked, "This is the beginning of a golden age of America," humorously adding that he had increased his investment amount in response to Trump's suggestion to double it to $200 billion.

The initial equity partners in the Stargate Project will include SoftBank, OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX, a venture firm focused on AI and advanced technologies. SoftBank and OpenAI will act as lead partners, with SoftBank taking on financial responsibilities while OpenAI will oversee operational duties. Furthermore, Son is expected to serve as the project's chairman.

In addition, technology giants Microsoft Corp. and Nvidia Corp. are set to join the Stargate initiative as technology partners, with plans to establish data centers for AI development as part of this ambitious project.

In recent years, SoftBank has been increasingly focusing on AI as a core element of its business strategy, promoting the use of this technology through its influential subsidiary, Arm Holdings PLC, and boosting investments in AI startups, including OpenAI. At a shareholders' meeting last year, Son expressed his ambition to create artificial superintelligence vastly smarter than humans within the next decade, asserting that he was "born to" realize this vision.

SoftBank, AI, Investment