SoftBank and OpenAI Launch Joint Venture to Advance AI Services in Japan
In a major step toward expanding artificial intelligence (AI) services, SoftBank Group and OpenAI announced the creation of a new joint venture called SB OpenAI Japan, a 50-50 partnership aimed at advancing AI technology in Japan. The announcement was made during an event in Tokyo, where SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman presented their collaboration and invited Japanese companies to join their AI revolution.
The Launch of Cristal AI
At the event, Son introduced Cristal, an AI service developed for use in business operations such as planning, marketing, email management, and even analyzing old source codes. He emphasized that Cristal would initially be rolled out across SoftBank’s own companies, including Arm, the semiconductor and software giant, and PayPay, the popular electronic payment service. SoftBank plans to invest $3 billion annually to integrate Cristal into its operations.
Son expressed his excitement about the new AI system, calling it a game-changer for businesses: “This will be super-intelligence for the company. I’m so excited,” he told reporters during the Transforming Business through AI event in Tokyo.
Advancements in AI Research: Deep Research
Altman highlighted Deep Research, a newly introduced feature that enhances ChatGPT’s capabilities by enabling it to perform complex tasks like researching the web and aggregating vast amounts of information far faster than any human could. This feature is set to be available in Japanese to meet the specific needs of the Japanese market.
“This partnership with SoftBank will accelerate our vision for bringing transformative AI to some of the world’s most influential companies, starting with Japan,” Altman said.
The Stargate Project: Expanding AI Infrastructure
In addition to their collaboration, SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle are part of the Stargate project, a major initiative supported by President Donald Trump aimed at investing up to $500 billion in AI infrastructure in the United States.
Son announced that Stargate would expand its efforts not only in the U.S. but also into Japan and other global markets, positioning SoftBank and OpenAI at the forefront of AI development worldwide.
Competition from China’s DeepSeek
The announcement comes as the global tech industry is buzzing over the recent rise of DeepSeek, a Chinese company claiming to have developed low-cost but highly intelligent AI. This development adds a layer of competition to the AI landscape, highlighting the global race to innovate in the field.
Conclusion
The formation of SB OpenAI Japan marks a significant milestone in the partnership between SoftBank and OpenAI. With the introduction of Cristal and Deep Research, both companies aim to revolutionize how businesses in Japan—and beyond—integrate AI technology into their operations. As part of their broader Stargate project, SoftBank and OpenAI are set to lead the charge in AI innovation, with the potential to reshape industries across the globe.
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