SoftBank Group is currently in discussions to invest up to $25 billion in OpenAI, which could position it as the AI startup's largest financial backer

SoftBank Group Corp. is in discussions to invest as much as $25 billion in OpenAI, a move that would potentially make it the AI startup’s biggest backer.

SoftBank Group Corp. (TYO:9984) is reportedly in talks to invest up to $25 billion in OpenAI, potentially becoming the AI startups biggest financial backer, according to the Financial Times. While the exact

Shares of Japanese chip-related firms were feeling the heat on Monday. Today’s slump comes as Chinese AI startup DeepSeek gained traction with its updated AI model, raising fears about potential challenges to US technological dominance.

Shares of Japanese semiconductor-related companies extended their losses on Tuesday after Monday’s selloff, driven by the release of the Chinese AI model DeepSeek. The selloff in US tech stocks added to the downward pressure,

In international markets, chipmaking and electrification companies saw pressure on the fears over the DeepSeek AI service. SoftBank -- the company that said it would fund up to $500 billion in AI infrastructure as well as the main shareholder of microchip designer ARM -- saw its stock dive 8%.

Group, led by Japanese billionaire Masayoshi Son, plans to approach private equity firms Apollo Global Management (NYSE:APO) and Brookfield for funding assistance with the Stargate AI project, Nikkei reported.

The president said it will be the largest AI infrastructure ever built and that it will help counter technology threats from China and other countries.

A new investment from the Japanese conglomerate would be separate from the $100 billion tied to a project announced at the White House last week.

The group is also "evaluating potential sites across ... Initial equity funders: SoftBank, OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX, which is a technology investment firm based in the United Arab Emirates.

Market heavyweight SoftBank Group is losing almost 6 percent ... The Dow fell 148.82 points or 0.3 percent to 44,424.25, the Nasdaq slid 99.38 points or 0.5 percent to 19,954.30 and the S&P ...

Market heavyweight SoftBank Group is losing almost 6 percent ... at 6,012.28, while the Nasdaq settled with a loss of 612.47 points or 3.07 percent, at 19,341.83. The major European markets ...