SoftBank Group is also deep-diving into the artificial intelligence race. The company is now inviting more banks to arrange a massive $40 billion loan for investment in OpenAI. This would be a litmus test for lenders’ confidence in its debt-heavy strategy. The move signals SoftBank’s gamble, exposing the growing tension between aggressive expansion and financial stability.
The deal is in the ‘soft launch’ phase, where additional lenders are onboarding as sub-underwriters. Each is expected to commit nearly $5 billion, which is not a small amount even for large institutions. Lenders, including JPMorgan Chase & Co., Goldman Sachs Group, Mizuho Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking, and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, have already underwritten the bridge loan, which matures in March 2027.
This deal is important not just for SoftBank but for the broader AI financing ecosystem. The confidence shown by the lenders would reflect the sustainability of debt-heavy strategies for AI investments.
Masayoshi Son, who's famous for his long-favored bold strategy. He has a strong conviction about this move. SoftBank has already invested over $30 billion into OpenAI, adding to major holdings like its dominant stake in Arm Holdings.
AI is capital-intensive, competitive, and still evolving. Funding it with increasing leverage raises the risk profile significantly, especially if returns take longer to materialize.
SoftBank’s latest move is a double-down pressure moment for AI. The willingness of banks to step in will expose how much faith still exists in Son’s vision. However, as debt piles up, the margin for miscalculation shrinks, as even a promising AI future may not be enough to offset the current financial risk.
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