The loan, which matures in March 2027, will also be used for general corporate purposes, according to the company. It is unsecured and was arranged with a consortium of major global lenders, including JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Mizuho Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp, and MUFG Bank.
The move marks another major step in SoftBank’s aggressive push into the fast-growing generative AI sector, as global technology firms compete to secure leadership in the space. The company, led by founder Masayoshi Son, has been strengthening its ties with OpenAI amid surging demand for advanced AI tools.
SoftBank had previously committed $30 billion to OpenAI through its Vision Fund 2, underscoring its long-term confidence in the company’s growth potential. Backed by Microsoft, OpenAI has emerged as a dominant player in the AI landscape following the widespread adoption of ChatGPT.
The latest financing also reflects a broader shift in SoftBank’s strategy, as it doubles down on artificial intelligence after years marked by both significant gains and notable losses within its Vision Fund portfolio.
SoftBank and OpenAI were among the key players behind the Stargate Project, an ambitious plan announced last year to invest up to $500 billion over four years in building AI infrastructure in the United States.
In addition, Son and former U.S. President Donald Trump revealed in December 2024 that SoftBank intends to invest $100 billion in AI and related infrastructure across the U.S. within the same timeframe.
The $40 billion bridge loan underscores SoftBank’s renewed confidence in artificial intelligence as a core driver of future growth, positioning the company at the center of a rapidly evolving global technology race.