SoftBank to Pay OpenAI $3 Billion Annually for AI Technology

ChatGPT maker OpenAI and Japan’s SoftBank have recently signed an agreement to create a joint venture. The new agreement was announced at a joint presentation in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday (February 3) in the presence of SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

The two companies said the joint venture, called ‘SB OpenAI Japan’, will provide a variety of AI-based services to corporate customers in Japan. It was also announced that SoftBank will pay OpenAI $3 billion annually to use OpenAI’s AI technology in various SoftBank Group companies. 

It is worth noting that ‘SB OpenAI Japan’ will be jointly owned by OpenAI and a new company established by SoftBank. The joint venture will aim to bring various AI services to the country’s corporate customers. That is, the main goal of this company is to create various enterprise solutions. 

At the presentation in Tokyo, Altman also informed everyone present about his company OpenAI’s new AI tool ‘Deep Research. It is worth noting that on February 2, OpenAI brought forward their advanced AI agent ‘Deep Research’, through which it is possible to perform complex research work in multiple stages. 

SoftBank has long been known as a major investor in the AI ​​sector. While the market value of their technology portfolio has declined recently, they have shown that they are a long-term racehorse in the AI ​​world by signing joint venture agreements with leading AI research institutions such as OpenAI. 

SoftBank is also investing in the $500 billion Stargate project announced last month to develop America’s AI infrastructure. The other three partners in the project are OpenAI, Oracle and Abu Dhabi-based AI investment firm MGX.

Meanwhile, OpenAI chief Sam Altman is touring various countries in Asia. His aim is to showcase his AI technology to corporate users in Asia and sell various enterprise AI tools. After SoftBank, Altman also signed an agreement with South Korean messaging app operator Kakao yesterday (Tuesday), under which the company will use technology like ChatGPT on its platform. Altman is scheduled to visit India today and it is believed that he may sign some important deals in the country.