SoftBank Seeks $100 Billion From Gulf Investors for AI Fund as OpenAI Risks Cloud Bet
Updated
Updated · Financial Times · Oct 9
SoftBank Seeks $100 Billion From Gulf Investors for AI Fund as OpenAI Risks Cloud Bet
1 articles · Updated · Financial Times · Oct 9
Summary
Masayoshi Son is seeking up to $100 billion from Gulf investors, including in the UAE, to fund SoftBank’s next AI expansion push, according to people familiar with the talks.
The money would back a new fund to buy companies and improve their operations with AI and other advanced technology, with SoftBank’s robotics and physical-AI business Roze expected to play a central role.
The fundraising comes as investors question SoftBank’s capacity to deepen its AI exposure after OpenAI delayed its IPO and concerns grew over valuations tied to the boom.
SoftBank has already committed $65 billion to OpenAI, raised more than $11 billion in a record junk-bond sale last month, and still relies on Gulf capital that helped seed its first $100 billion Vision Fund in 2017.
The talks land at a sensitive moment for SoftBank: its shares are still up 25% this year but have fallen more than 30% since June, underscoring how closely its fortunes are tied to AI sentiment.
Could SoftBank's $100 billion Gulf gamble backfire if OpenAI's delayed IPO and mounting losses trigger an AI valuation collapse?
Why is Masayoshi Son building a massive robotics empire with Gulf money while warning that advanced AI could be super dangerous?
Will Abu Dhabi's massive tech investments give Gulf states unprecedented control over the future of global artificial intelligence and robotics?
SoftBank’s $100 Billion AI Gamble: Leverage, Market Volatility, and Systemic Risks in the 2026 AI Investment Race
Overview
In October 2026, SoftBank faced sharp market volatility after investors realized OpenAI’s actual revenue was $50 billion—$20 billion less than expected—due to different accounting methods compared to Anthropic. This triggered a broad sell-off in AI and semiconductor stocks, with SoftBank’s own stock dropping further after it completed a major $10 billion investment in OpenAI. The situation was worsened by SoftBank’s heavy use of debt to fund its AI ambitions, raising concerns about its financial stability. Meanwhile, Gulf sovereign wealth funds, wary from past losses, shifted to more cautious and direct investment strategies, making SoftBank’s $100 billion fundraising campaign even more challenging.