SoftBank approves remaining US$22bil of OpenAI investment

SoftBank approves remaining US$22bil of OpenAI investment

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

SoftBank EPA
SoftBank had earlier agreed to fund OpenAI with US$10 billion in mid-April and an additional US$30 billion in December. (EPA Images pic)
TOKYO:
SoftBank has approved a second installment of US$22.5 billion to complete its US$30 billion investment in OpenAI, tech news website the Information reported yesterday.

The Japanese investment group’s board has approved the installment as long as the artificial intelligence (AI) 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 US$41 billion financing round that was announced in April, according to the Information report.

SoftBank had earlier agreed to fund OpenAI with US$10 billion in mid-April and an additional US$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 US$20 billion.

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