Masayoshi Son-led SoftBank Group Corporation (OTC:SFTBF) has reportedly re-committed to a $500 million investment in ChatGPT-parent OpenAI.
What Happened: This investment forms part of a larger $6.5 billion funding round, catapulting OpenAI's valuation to a staggering $150 billion, reported Financial Times, citing two people with knowledge of the deal.
The investment will be made through SoftBank's second Vision Fund, primarily backed by the personal wealth of the company's leader, Son.
This move will add SoftBank to the list of existing investors, which includes Thrive Capital and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT).
Despite the high-profile departures from OpenAI and potential corporate restructuring, investors remain optimistic about the company's ability to push the boundaries of AI technology, the report noted.
They are betting on OpenAI's potential to outperform big tech rivals like Google and Meta, as well as startups such as Anthropic and Mistral.
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Why It Matters: Son has previously referred to himself as an avid user of OpenAI's chat service and has formed a strong connection with the company's CEO, Sam Altman.
He considers Altman to be one of the most influential figures in the world and has said that they communicate daily.
SoftBank already works with OpenAI in Japan, helping local businesses create advanced chatbots.
Last month, Apple design legend Sir Jony Ive also confirmed his collaboration with OpenAI on a new AI hardware project. Earlier, it was reported that Altman and Ive are seeking to secure $1 billion in funding from SoftBank for their new venture.
Meanwhile, Apple has reportedly pulled out of talks to invest in OpenAI's upcoming funding round. The withdrawal occurred at the last minute, just ahead of the funding round's expected closure.
Image via ChatGPT
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據報道，軟銀集團（OTC：SFTBF）由孫正義領導的SoftBank集團再次承諾向chatgpt概念股母公司OpenAI投資50000萬美元。
事件經過：該投資是650000000美元融資輪的一部分，使OpenAI的估值飆升至驚人的1500億美元，據《金融時報》援引兩名知情人士的話報道。
這筆投資將通過軟銀的第二願景基金進行，該基金主要由公司領導人孫正義的個人財富支持。
這一舉動將使SoftBank成爲現有投資者之一，其中還包括Thrive Capital和微軟-t（NASDAQ：MSFT）。
儘管OpenAI存在知名人士的離開和潛在的企業重組，但投資者仍對該公司推動人工智能技術邊界的能力持樂觀態度，報告指出。
他們押注於OpenAI超越谷歌和Meta等大科技公司以及Anthropic和Mistral等初創公司的潛力。
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爲何重要：孫正義此前曾自稱是OpenAI聊天服務的忠實用戶，並與該公司的首席執行官薩姆·奧爾特曼建立了牢固的聯繫。
他認爲Altman是世界上最有影響力的人物之一，並表示他們每天都有交流。
SoftBank在日本已經與OpenAI合作，幫助當地企業創建先進的聊天機器人。
上個月，蘋果設計傳奇人物喬尼·艾維爵士也確認了他與OpenAI在一個新的人工智能硬件項目上的合作。此前，有報道稱Altman和艾維正致力於從SoftBank獲得10億美元的資金支持，用於他們的創業公司。
與此同時，蘋果據稱退出了投資OpenAI即將進行的融資輪的談判。這一撤資發生在最後一刻，就在預計結束融資輪之前。
圖片來源於chatgpt概念股
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