Japan’s SoftBank and US-based OpenAI team up to launch AI solutions for companies
Japan’s SoftBank Group and US tech giant OpenAI have announced a 50-50 joint venture aimed at providing advanced AI solutions for businesses according to AFP.
The agreement was formally signed on Monday, with SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son introducing a new AI-driven product called Cristal.
$3 Billion Annual Investment in AI
SoftBank plans to invest $3 billion annually to integrate OpenAI’s technology across its group of companies.
During a meeting with 500 Japanese businesses, Son—holding a purple crystal ball—described Cristal as an AI assistant that will analyze system data, reports, emails, and meetings in real-time to help businesses streamline operations.
The joint venture aims to:
- Develop AI agents tailored to Japanese companies.
- Create a model for global AI adoption.
SoftBank and OpenAI are already collaborating on “Stargate”, an AI infrastructure project announced in January by US President Donald Trump. The initiative plans to invest up to $500 billion in AI infrastructure across the US.
Rising AI competition
The partnership follows the recent emergence of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, which has drawn global attention for its high-performance AI models at a lower cost.
On the same day, OpenAI also unveiled a new ChatGPT feature, “deep research,” which reportedly completes tasks in minutes that would take humans hours.
This partnership signals a major push for AI integration in the business world, as companies race to adopt the latest advancements.