SoftBank moves to secure $16 billion loan to strengthen AI focus

SoftBank Group, led by CEO Masayoshi Son, is reportedly in discussions to secure a $16 billion loan to accelerate its expansion into artificial intelligence. According to sources cited by The Information, the Japanese tech conglomerate presented this proposal to banks last week. The company may also seek an additional $8 billion in early 2026, further reinforcing its aggressive push into the AI sector.

SoftBank’s latest financing efforts come amid its broader ambition to establish itself as a dominant player in AI. In January, Reuters reported that the company was in talks to invest up to $25 billion in OpenAI, the firm behind ChatGPT. This move would add to SoftBank’s substantial financial commitments in the AI space, including its $15 billion pledge to the Stargate initiative.

Stargate, a joint venture involving SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle, aims to invest up to $500 billion to strengthen the United States’ AI capabilities against global competitors, particularly China. The initiative was officially announced at the White House in January, with key figures such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison, and former U.S. President Donald Trump in attendance.

SoftBank has been strategically leveraging its capital and publicly listed assets to fund these ventures. Previous reports suggested the company had initially planned to borrow up to $18.5 billion to support investments in OpenAI and Stargate. Now, with the latest $16 billion loan discussions, SoftBank appears committed to scaling its AI footprint even further.

Masayoshi Son has long been vocal about AI’s transformative potential, positioning SoftBank as a key financial backer in the race to develop cutting-edge AI technologies. With significant investments already lined up, the company is betting big on AI as a cornerstone of its future growth strategy.