SoftBank Targets Artificial Superintelligence Leadership After Losing OpenAI to Microsoft

Son’s Longstanding Desire to Lead OpenAI Investment

SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son is making his ambitions crystal clear: he wants SoftBank at the center of the AI revolution, and he’s set his sights on OpenAI. At SoftBank’s annual meeting, Son admitted he’s long coveted Microsoft’s role as OpenAI’s main backer, saying he’s “all in” on the AI firm’s future. He believes OpenAI is on track to become the world’s most valuable company, and he wants SoftBank to play a defining role in that journey.

Microsoft and OpenAI Partnership Under Strain

Meanwhile, the relationship between Microsoft and OpenAI is showing real cracks. The two companies are currently locked in a dispute over a key contractual clause: if OpenAI achieves artificial general intelligence (AGI), Microsoft’s access to the technology could be restricted. Microsoft is pushing to remove this clause, while OpenAI is standing firm, putting their high-profile partnership under stress.

Intellectual Property Disputes and Cloud Provider Shifts

Tensions are also rising over OpenAI’s recent $3 billion acquisition of coding startup Windsurf. Microsoft wants access to Windsurf’s technology as part of its early-access deal, but OpenAI is resisting. On top of that, OpenAI is exploring a new cloud partnership with Google, signaling a possible end to Microsoft’s exclusive role as its cloud provider and distributor.

The Stakes: Funding and Corporate Structure

OpenAI faces a major deadline: by the end of this year, it must convert from a nonprofit to a for-profit structure or risk losing $20 billion in funding—a move that requires Microsoft’s approval. Negotiations over this transition, Microsoft’s stake, and access to AGI breakthroughs have been ongoing, with no clear resolution in sight.

SoftBank’s Bold Move: Massive Funding and Industry Leadership

Amid this uncertainty, SoftBank is moving aggressively. The firm has committed up to $40 billion in funding for OpenAI and is leading the $500 billion Stargate data center project, a massive U.S. infrastructure initiative involving OpenAI, Oracle, Microsoft, Nvidia, and others. Son’s vision is for SoftBank to become the “organiser of the industry in the artificial superintelligence era,” not just a backer, but a true architect of the AI future.

What’s Next in the AI Power Play?

With Microsoft and OpenAI’s partnership at a crossroads and SoftBank ramping up its ambitions, the AI landscape is shifting fast. If Son can capitalize on these tensions and position SoftBank at the forefront, he could redefine who leads the next era of artificial intelligence. The stakes have never been higher, and the next moves from these tech giants will shape the future of AI for years to come.