SoftBank approves remaining $22.5bn OpenAI investment: report

Installment to come as long as OpenAI completes corporate restructuring

20251026 Son of SoftBank and Altman of OpenAI

SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman attend an event to pitch AI for businesses in Tokyo, Feb. 3. © Reuters

(Reuters) -- SoftBank has approved a second installment of $22.5 billion to complete its $30 billion investment in OpenAI, tech news website the Information reported on Saturday.

The Japanese investment group's board has approved the installment as long as the artificial intelligence startup completes a corporate restructuring that would pave the way for an eventual public offering, the report said, citing a person with knowledge of the decision.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. SoftBank and OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The money would fill out a $41 billion financing round that was announced in April, according to the Information report.

SoftBank had earlier agreed to fund OpenAI with $10 billion in mid-April and an additional $30 billion in December, contingent on the AI firm transitioning to a for-profit structure by the end of the year.

However, the tech investment firm had said that if OpenAI's restructuring fails, the investment amount would drop to $20 billion.

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