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SoftBank Group

SoftBank is a Japan-based telecom and e-commerce conglomerate that has expanded mainly through acquisitions, and its key assets include a 40%-owned mobile and fixed broadband telecom operator business in Japan. It also owns 90% of semiconductor chip designer Arm Holdings following the 2023 IPO of this business, and has a vast portfolio of mainly internet- and e-commerce-focused early-stage investments. It is also general partner of the $100 billion SoftBank Vision Fund 1 and sole investor in SoftBank Vision Fund 2, both of which primarily invest in pre-IPO internet and AI companies.

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La valoración de Perplexity AI se dispara a 9.000 millones de dólares en plena competencia de búsqueda por IA.

Perplexity AI asegura 500 millones de dólares y triplica su valoración en solo un año

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Startups en Asia están desarrollando chips de IA más eficientes y rentables para competir con NVIDIA en el mercado de IA.

Startups asiáticas desafían a NVIDIA (NVDA) con chips de IA más eficientes y rentables

SOFTBANK GRP UNSP/ADR by Softbank Group Corp

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The Trump Administration has announced an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43111153/nvidia-and-ai-stock-rises-as-trump-announces-500-billion-stargate-ai-infrastructure-venture" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI infrastructure joint venture</a> in the U.S. named &#8220;Stargate,&#8221; comprised of OpenAI, SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>), Oracle Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), and Abu Dhabi&#8217;s MGX. The venture will deploy $100 billion initially and up to $500 billion over the next four years.
Masayoshi Son of SoftBank (rated Outperform), Sam Altman of OpenAI, and Larry Ellison of Oracle participated in the press conference at the White House.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43127416/anthropic-gains-big-with-google-backing-aiming-for-60-billion-valuation-and-surging-ai-revenue" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthropic Gains Big With Google Backing, Aims for $60 Billion Valuation and Surging AI Revenue</a>
Ellison noted that the JV&#8217;s initial ten data center buildings are in Abilene, Texas, with plans to expand to twenty.
Macquarie analyst Paul Golding recalled that Son and President Donald Trump announced in December plans for SoftBank to invest $100 in the U.S. over the next four years while creating 100,000 jobs focused on &#8220;AI and related infrastructure.&#8221;
The OpenAI release on Stargate outlines SoftBank as having financial responsibility, OpenAI operational responsibility, and Son as Chairman of the JV. Arm Holdings Plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Oracle, and OpenAI are the key initial tech partners.
Golding had been tracking a potential &#8220;mega-project&#8221; at SoftBank, focused on AI, semis, and data centers, for quite some time. In those early reports, the analyst cited that the investment size targeted was ~$100 billion. The breadth of the project type spanned data centers, colocated data center power generation, vaccines, and artificial general intelligence (AGI).
Prior reports indicated Son&#8217;s plan to use an Arm AI chip division to supply chips for new SoftBank data centers starting in 2026 while exploring fusion tech to power them.
Meanwhile, Arm IP is being leveraged in the partnership between Nvidia and SoftBank to develop multi-access edge computing technology for AI over 5G across Japan for deployment in other countries based on fine-tuning from the Japan pilot.
Golding remarked this could eventually be incorporated into Stargate to unlock IoT capabilities, inference at the edge, and other AI-enhanced processes.
While funding considerations and operational bandwidth for SoftBank will be key areas to watch as Stargate gets up and running, participation in a project of this scale alongside heavyweights in the AI space like OpenAI, in Golding&#8217;s opinion, shows how valuable the quality and combination of SoftBank&#8217;s assets and tech investment management capabilities are seen to be, given the time and place in tech and the world.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/emerging-markets/25/01/43096797/huawei-wants-to-take-nvidias-place-in-ai-in-china-shifts-focus-to-inference-over-training" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Huawei Wants To Take Nvidia&#8217;s Place In AI In China, Shifts Focus to Inference Over Training</a></li>
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SoftBank's Role in $500 Billion Stargate AI Venture Seen as Major Growth Driver, Analyst Says

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://thearorareport.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-01-22_07h51_16.png" alt="" /></figure>
To gain an edge, this is what you need to know today.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Fueling AI Frenzy</h4>
An enlarged chart of artificial intelligence ETF Global X Artificial Intelligence &amp; Technology ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AIQ#NASDAQ">AIQ</a>).
Note the following:
<ul>
<li>The chart shows there is a breakout in artificial intelligence ETF in the early trade this morning.&nbsp; As a caution, all breakouts do not sustain. Prudent investors should carefully watch if the breakout sustains or if it fails.</li>
<li>RSI on the chart shows AIQ is barely overbought.&nbsp; RSI shows the ETF has room to run higher.</li>
<li>Volume on the chart has been staying high, indicating sustained interest.</li>
<li>The Trump administration has announced an artificial intelligence project called Stargate.&nbsp; Stargate is a $500B venture to build AI data centers.&nbsp; The initial equity funders of the joint venture are OpenAI, SoftBank Group Corp &#8211; ADR (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>), Oracle Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), and Abu Dhabi's MGX.&nbsp; NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), and Arm Holdings PLC &#8211; ADR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) are technology partners.</li>
<li>The announcement of Stargate is adding fuel to the AI frenzy.</li>
<li>In The Arora Report analysis, the headline of $500B for Stargate may turn out to be a mirage.&nbsp; The initial number is $100B and includes previously announced projects.&nbsp; The new funding may be significantly less than $100B.&nbsp; For the time being, the analysis does not matter because the momo crowd is buying extremely aggressively on the headline.</li>
<li>Trump commented that 10% tariffs on China are under consideration.&nbsp; This is better news for Chinese stocks than the previously mentioned 60% tariffs.&nbsp; However, Chinese stocks sank on Trump's comment, and the yuan declined.</li>
<li>The U.S. stock market ran up yesterday, in part, on the assumption that China may escape tariffs.&nbsp; This morning in the early, the market is ignoring Trump's China comments and continues to run up.</li>
<li>Extreme positive sentiment is evidence as the market runs up on positive rumors, but when the rumors turn out to be false and the facts are negative, the market ignores it.&nbsp; In The Arora Report analysis, history is clear.&nbsp; Long term investments should be initiated when sentiment is extremely negative and profits should be taken when sentiment is extremely positive.&nbsp; The best way to take advantage of extremely positive sentiment is through tactical positions.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>The market is also being helped by strong earnings from: Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>), United Airlines Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>), Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBKR#NASDAQ">IBKR</a>), Procter &amp; Gamble Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PG#NYSE">PG</a>).</li>
<li>Leading Indicators will be released at 10am ET and may be market moving.</li>
</ul>
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Magnificent Seven Money Flows</h4>
In the early trade, money flows are positive in Amazon.com, Inc., Meta Platforms Inc, NVDA, and MSFT.
In the early trade, money flows are neutral in Alphabet Inc Class C.
In the early trade, money flows are negative in Apple Inc and Tesla Inc.
In the early trade, money flows are positive in SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust and Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Momo Crowd And Smart Money In Stocks</h4>
Investors can gain an edge by knowing money flows in SPY and QQQ.  Investors can get a bigger edge by knowing when smart money is buying stocks, gold, and oil.  The most popular ETF for gold is SPDR Gold Trust.  The most popular ETF for silver is iShares Silver Trust.  The most popular ETF for oil is United States Oil ETF.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Bitcoin</h4>
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) is seeing selling on continued disappointment that Trump has not announced a bitcoin reserve.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Protection Band And What To Do Now</h4>
It is important for investors to look ahead and not in the rearview mirror.&nbsp; The proprietary protection band from The Arora Report is very popular.&nbsp; The protection band puts all of the data, all of the indicators, all of the news, all of the crosscurrents, all of the models, and all of the analysis in an analytical framework that is easily actionable by investors.
Consider continuing to hold good, very long term, existing positions. Based on individual risk preference, consider a protection band consisting of cash or Treasury bills or short-term tactical trades as well as short to medium term hedges and short term hedges. This is a good way to protect yourself and participate in the upside at the same time.
You can determine your protection bands by adding cash to hedges.&nbsp; The high band of the protection is appropriate for those who are older or conservative. The low band of the protection is appropriate for those who are younger or aggressive.&nbsp; If you do not hedge, the total cash level should be more than stated above but significantly less than cash plus hedges.
A protection band of 0% would be very bullish and would indicate full investment with 0% in cash.&nbsp; A protection band of 100% would be very bearish and would indicate a need for aggressive protection with cash and hedges or aggressive short selling.
It is worth reminding that you cannot take advantage of new upcoming opportunities if you are not holding enough cash.&nbsp; When adjusting hedge levels, consider adjusting partial stop quantities for stock positions (non ETF); consider using wider stops on remaining quantities and also allowing more room for high beta stocks.&nbsp; High beta stocks are the ones that move more than the market.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Traditional 60/40 Portfolio</h4>
Probability based risk reward adjusted for inflation does not favor long duration strategic bond allocation at this time.
Those who want to stick to traditional 60% allocation to stocks and 40% to bonds may consider focusing on only high quality bonds and bonds of five year duration or less.&nbsp; Those willing to bring sophistication to their investing may consider using bond ETFs as tactical positions and not strategic positions at this time.
The Arora Report is known for its accurate calls. The Arora Report correctly called the big artificial intelligence rally before anyone else, the new bull market of 2023, the bear market of 2022, new stock market highs right after the virus low in 2020, the virus drop in 2020, the DJIA rally to 30,000 when it was trading at 16,000, the start of a mega bull market in 2009, and the financial crash of 2008. Please click here to sign up for a free forever <a href="https://thearorareport.com/generate-wealth-newsletter-benzinga">Generate Wealth Newsletter</a>.

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Stargate Adds Fuel To AI Frenzy, Chinese Stocks Sink On Trump Tariff Talk

Alphabet Inc&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google earmarked over $1 billion investment <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/anthropic" rel="noreferrer noopener">into OpenAI rival</a> Anthropic, intensifying its rivalry with Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) and Amazon.Com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>).
In 2023, Google <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/10/41528255/googles-2b-investment-in-anthropic-under-scrutiny-uk-opens-competition-inquiry" rel="noreferrer noopener">committed up to $2 billion</a> to the Microsoft-backed OpenAI rival, Financial Times <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/ed631513-dd37-44a3-a536-b2002f5727cc" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter. The new tranche of money from Google into Anthropic adds to Amazon&#8217;s total investment of $8 billion.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/01/43110913/apples-iphone-dependence-remains-but-services-wearables-offer-growth-potential-analyst" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple&#8217;s iPhone Dependence Remains, But Services, Wearables Offer Growth Potential: Analyst</a>
Google invented the technology on which Anthropic&#8217;s Claude and OpenAI&#8217;s GPT4 models are built.
Anthropic was also on the verge of securing a further $2 billion from Silicon Valley venture capital investors in a deal likely to triple the start-up&#8217;s valuation to about $60 billion, Financial Times cites unnamed sources familiar with the deal.
Like Meta and Microsoft, OpenAI and Elon Musk&#8217;s xAI raised over $10 billion in 2024.
According to Financial Times, Anthropic&#8217;s revenue hit an annualized $1 billion in December, up roughly 10 times on a year earlier.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/12/42709007/sam-altmans-openai-plans-major-revamp-corporate-structure" rel="noreferrer noopener">Prior reports indicated</a> that OpenAI, worth $157 billion, will be restructuring its non-profit structure into a public benefit corporation in 2025 as developing large-scale language models requires substantial investments.
In related news, on Tuesday, OpenAI, SoftBank (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>), and Oracle Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) introduced a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43111153/nvidia-and-ai-stock-rises-as-trump-announces-500-billion-stargate-ai-infrastructure-venture" rel="noreferrer noopener">$500 billion joint venture</a>, Stargate, to build AI infrastructure in the U.S. Stargate&#8217;s debut project will focus on creating a large-scale data center in Texas, with plans to expand to other states.&nbsp;
Also, in January, Microsoft launched its CoreAI division to streamline AI tools and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42980720/microsoft-taps-meta-veteran-to-lead-new-coreai-division-plans-shift-from-openai-dependence" rel="noreferrer noopener">build AI apps</a>. The company committed $80 billion for AI-driven data centers.
Price Action: GOOGL stock is up 0.38% at $200.39 premarket at the last check on Wednesday.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/01/43110753/aws-robotics-prime-video-ads-fuel-amazon-growth-potential-analysts" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AWS, Robotics, Prime Video Ads Fuel Amazon Growth Potential: Analysts</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Media

Anthropic Gains Big With Google Backing, Aims for $60 Billion Valuation and Surging AI Revenue

U.S. stocks could open on a positive note on Wednesday, continuing to rally after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/43085323/trump-sworn-in-as-47th-president-declares-golden-age-of-america-begins-right-now">Donald Trump's inauguration</a> as the 47th President of the U.S. on Monday. Futures point to a second consecutive day of positive start to the Trump presidency.
As the new administration settles in, President Trump announced an ambitious $500 billion artificial intelligence project dubbed Stargate. This venture includes Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), Microsoft Corp.-backed (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) OpenAI, and SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>).
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Futures</td>
<td>Change (+/-)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>0.84%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>0.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>0.17%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>R2K</td>
<td>0.17%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
In premarket trading on Wednesday, the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) gained 0.37% to $605.24 and the Invesco QQQ ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) rose 0.77% to $528.86, according to <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Cues From Last Session:
U.S. stocks ended Tuesday on a positive note, with Dow Jones and S&amp;P 500 ending the day with major gains, while the Nasdaq closed 0.64% in the green.
Crude oil prices edged lower as traders await clarity about the new Trump administration's agenda.
Vistra Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VST#NYSE">VST</a>) and Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) were among the top gainers on Tuesday, surging 8.48% and 7.17% during the session respectively.
On the economic data front, U.S. industrial production rose by 0.9% in December, ahead of estimates of a 0.3% increase. Housing starts rose by 15.8% from the previous month to an annualized rate of 1.499 million units in December.
Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with industrials, real estate, and healthcare stocks recording gains on Tuesday.
However, energy stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Index</td>
<td>Performance (+/-)</td>
<td>Value</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq Composite</td>
<td>0.64%</td>
<td>19,756.78</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>0.88%</td>
<td>6,049.24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>1.24%</td>
<td>44,025.81</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>1.85%</td>
<td>2,317.97</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Insights From Analysts:
Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at Carson Global, underscored that there is a high possibility that 2025 could be a good year as far as equity markets are concerned.
"The year after an election year has been quite strong lately, with stocks higher 9 of the past 10 times going back to Reagan&#8217;s second term," he said.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The year after an election year has been quite strong lately, with stocks higher 9 of the past 10 times going back to Reagan&#39;s second term. <a href="https://t.co/Nkx8DDehQ8">pic.twitter.com/Nkx8DDehQ8</a>
&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1881724906460868653?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
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In 2017, the first year of Trump's previous term, the Dow and S&amp;P 500 delivered a return of 19.4%. Likewise, in Biden's first year in office, the return stood at 26.9%.
Jeremy Siegel, Wharton professor and senior economist at WisdomTree, underscored the resilient U.S. economy and positive indicators going into 2025.
"The outlook for Q4 GDP growth is strong, with estimates ranging between 2.5% and 3%, a testament to the underlying strength of the economy as we transition into 2025," he said.
He also has a word of caution about the impact of Trump's tariff plans, but noted that they are "likely months away."
"The S&amp;P 500 thus far remains resilient, but I maintain my call for a correction this year as bond yields rise further, which could pressure valuations. This presents opportunities for less richly priced stocks, sectors, and strategies."
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How To Trade Futures</a>
Upcoming Economic Data
Here's what investors will keep an eye on for Wednesday and the rest of the week:
<ul>
<li>On Wednesday, leading economic indicator data will be released at 10:00 a.m., ET.</li>
<li>On Thursday, initial jobless claims data will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>
<li>On Friday, S&amp;P flash services PMI and manufacturing PMI will be released at 9:45 a.m. ET.</li>
<li>Existing home sales and consumer sentiment data will be released at 10 a.m., ET.</li>
</ul>
Stocks In Focus:
<ul>
<li>Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) stock gained over 8% in premarket trade on Wednesday after President Trump announced the Stargate AI joint venture, comprising Oracle, OpenAI, and SoftBank.</li>
<li>Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) surged over 14% after stunning the Street with 20 million new subscribers and a price hike amid its best quarterly performance ever.</li>
<li>Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Arm Holdings Plc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) and other chip stocks gained in pre-market after Trump's AI announcement.</li>
<li>Investors are awaiting earnings results from Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABT#NYSE">ABT</a>), The Procter &amp; Gamble Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PG#NYSE">PG</a>), and Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>) today.</li>
</ul>
Commodities, Bonds And Global Equity Markets:
Crude oil futures fell in the early New York session, declining by 0.42% to hover around $75.51 per barrel.
The 10-year Treasury note yield edged higher to 4.585%.
Most of the major Asian markets were mixed on Wednesday, while European markets were in the green in early trading.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43118541/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-rally-amid-secs-plans-to-establish-crypto-regulations-top-trader-issues-bold-3000-target-for-btc-this-cycle">Bitcoin, Ethereum Rally Amid SEC&#8217;s Plans To Establish Crypto Regulations: Top Trader Issues $300,000 Target For BTC This Cycle</a></li>
</ul>
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US Stocks Likely To Open Higher As Trump Announces $500 Billion AI Project: Oracle, Netflix, Nvidia Among Top Stocks To Watch

Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk cast doubt Wednesday on the ambitious $500 billion Project Stargate, hours after its announcement, claiming lead investor SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) has &#8220;well under $10B secured.&#8221;
What Happened: The project, unveiled Tuesday at a White House briefing in the presence of President Donald Trump, represents a joint venture between OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) to establish massive <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43111153/nvidia-and-ai-stock-rises-as-trump-announces-500-billion-stargate-ai-infrastructure-venture">artificial intelligence infrastructure across the United States</a>. 
&#8220;They don't actually have the money,&#8221; Musk said.
&#8220;SoftBank has well under $10B secured. I have that on good authority.&#8221;
During the briefing, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison highlighted the project&#8217;s healthcare applications, including an AI-driven system capable of delivering personalized cancer vaccines within 48 hours. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">SoftBank has well under $10B secured. I have that on good authority.
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1881944244480565497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/01/43119814/google-parent-owned-startup-to-launch-ai-designed-drug-trials-by-year-end-partnering-with-eli-lilly-and-novartis-to-tackle-major-diseases">Google Parent-Owned Startup To Launch AI-Designed Drug Trials By Year-End, Partnering With Eli Lilly And Novartis To Tackle Major Diseases</a>
Why It Matters: The initiative plans to deploy an initial $100 billion immediately, starting with a 500,000-square-foot data center in Abilene, Texas. Nine additional facilities are planned, with potential expansion to 20 locations.
Technology partners Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), and Arm Holdings plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) saw their stocks climb on the news. NVIDIA rose 3.95% to $143.15, while Arm jumped 8.94% to $162.60.
OpenAI, maintaining operational responsibility while SoftBank leads financial aspects, stated the project &#8220;will secure American leadership in AI&#8221; and &#8220;create hundreds of thousands of American jobs.&#8221; SoftBank&#8217;s Masayoshi Son will serve as chairman.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/43119464/netflix-raises-prices-16-peter-schiff-warns-of-escalating-inflation-risks-ahead-of-trump-policies">Netflix Raises Prices 16%, Peter Schiff Warns Of Escalating Inflation Risks Ahead Of Trump Policies</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Wikimedia Commons
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Elon Musk Says Project Stargate Doesn't 'Actually Have The Money' After Trump Announces $500 Billion AI Investment Led By SoftBank, Oracle And OpenAI

Contracts

Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son Is Expected At The White House Tuesday Afternoon, Along With Sam Altman Of OpenAI And Larry Ellison Of Oracle

<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-announces-private-sector-ai-infrastructure-investment/" title="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-announces-private-sector-ai-infrastructure-investment/">https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-announces-private-sector-ai-infrastructure-investment/</a>

'Trump To Announce Private Sector AI Infrastructure Investment; OpenAI, Softbank And Oracle Are Planning A Joint Venture Called Stargate' - CBS News

Arm Holdings PLC &#8211; ADR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) is exploring the potential acquisition of semiconductor designer Ampere Computing LLC, signaling further consolidation in the artificial intelligence chip sector.
What Happened: Ampere, which designs data center processors using Arm&#8217;s technology and is backed by Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), has been fielding takeover interest while working with financial advisers to explore strategic options, according to people familiar with the matter <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-09/chip-designer-arm-considers-acquiring-ampere-computing">cited</a> by Bloomberg on Wednesday. 
The company was previously valued at $8 billion in a proposed SoftBank Group Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) minority investment in 2021.
The potential deal emerges as Ampere faces intensifying competition in the AI chip market. In May, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38892874/nvidia-faces-new-competition-as-qualcomm-and-ampere-launch-ai-focused-server">the company partnered</a> with Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) to launch an AI-focused server combining Ampere&#8217;s CPUs with Qualcomm&#8217;s Cloud AI 100 Ultra chips for inference tasks. This collaboration aims to establish a stronger foothold in the data center market currently dominated by NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>).
Arm Holdings and Ampere Computing did not immediately respond to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a>'s request for comment.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42888800/goldman-sachs-flags-market-correction-risk-as-inflation-trump-policies-stir-uncertainty">Goldman Sachs Flags Market Correction Risk As Inflation, Trump Policies Stir Uncertainty</a>
Why It Matters: Oracle currently holds a 29% stake in Ampere with options to gain control. The startup, which had confidentially filed for an IPO in April 2022, is led by CEO Renee James, a former Intel Corp. executive. 
In May, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38892874/nvidia-faces-new-competition-as-qualcomm-and-ampere-launch-ai-focused-server">company announced plans</a> for next-generation CPUs featuring 256 processing cores, manufactured using Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.&#8216;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) 3-nanometer process.
For Arm, acquiring Ampere could accelerate its evolution from a technology licensor to a more complete chipmaker, potentially leveraging Ampere&#8217;s engineering expertise in the server market. The discussions, however, remain fluid and could fall through, according to the report.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42890014/jim-cramer-warns-on-quantum-stories-as-stocks-plunge-we-need-you-out-before-the-froth-goes-away">Jim Cramer Warns On &#8216;Quantum Stories&#8217; As Stocks Plunge: &#8216;We Need You Out Before The Froth Goes Away&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock

QCOM

SoftBank-Owned Arm Eyes Acquisition Of Oracle-Backed Chip Designer Ampere Computing Amid Nvidia's Dominance: Report

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman faces allegation from his sister Ann Altman, who filed a lawsuit on Monday claiming sexual abuse, amid multiple legal challenges confronting the artificial intelligence company.
What Happened: In a joint family statement posted on X on Tuesday, Altman&#8217;s mother and brothers strongly denied the accusations, describing them as &#8220;deeply hurtful and entirely untrue.&#8221;
The statement detailed the family&#8217;s attempts to support Ann through various means, including monthly financial assistance and offers to establish a housing trust.
&#8220;The worst allegation she has made is that she was sexually abused by Sam as a child (she has also claimed instances of sexual abuse from others). Her claims have evolved drastically over time. Newly for this lawsuit, they now include allegations of incidents where Sam was over 18,&#8221; said the statement. 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">My sister has filed a lawsuit against me. Here is a statement from my mom, brothers, and me: <a href="https://t.co/Nve0yokTSX">pic.twitter.com/Nve0yokTSX</a>
&mdash; Sam Altman (@sama) <a href="https://twitter.com/sama/status/1876780763653263770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42865524/amazon-aws-will-invest-at-least-11-billion-in-georgia-to-boost-ai-and-cloud-infrastructure-we-expect-to-create-more-than-550-well-paying-jobs">Amazon AWS To Invest $11 Billion In Georgia To Boost AI And Cloud Infrastructure: &#8216;Expect To Create More Than 550 Well-Paying Jobs&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The family statement noted that Ann has previously made multiple allegations against them, including claims of improper withholding of their father&#8217;s 401(k) funds and technical interference with her social media accounts. They expressed concern about her mental health while maintaining their commitment to supporting her &#8220;in the best way we can.&#8221;
This lawsuit emerges as OpenAI, valued at $157 billion and backed by Microsoft Corp., navigates other significant legal challenges. The company already faces a lawsuit from Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk, who alleges a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42609769/elon-musk-is-a-legendary-entrepreneur-but-also-a-bully-says-openai-ceo-sam-altman-now-its-me-its-been-bezos-gates-zuckerberg-lots-of-other-people">breach of contract</a> regarding OpenAI&#8217;s shift from its original nonprofit mission.
The legal dispute comes months after Altman&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/12/36171063/what-really-happened-with-sam-altman-getting-fired-as-openai-ceo-new-details-emerge">brief but dramatic removal</a> as CEO in November 2023, followed by his swift reinstatement after pressure from investors and employees. 
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/01/42865752/tesla-supplier-catl-riot-games-owner-tencent-plan-legal-action-over-pentagon-blacklist-deny-military-ties">Tesla Supplier CATL, Riot Games Owner Tencent Plan Legal Action Over Pentagon Blacklist, Deny Military Ties</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Flickr
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Social Media

Startups

TSLA

Sam Altman's Sister Files Lawsuit Against OpenAI CEO Alleging Sexual Abuse — Family Respond: 'Deeply Hurtful And Entirely Untrue'

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="711" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/16185231/image-7.png" alt="" class="wp-image-4139" srcset="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/16185231/image-7.png 1200w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/16185231/image-7-300x178.png 300w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/16185231/image-7-1024x607.png 1024w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/16185231/image-7-768x455.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>
To gain an edge, this is what you need to know today.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Small Language Model</h4>
An enlarged chart of Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)
Note the following:
<ul>
<li>This article is about the big picture, not an individual stock.&nbsp; The chart of MSFT stock is being used to illustrate the point.</li>
<li>The chart shows MSFT stock has climbed in December so far.</li>
<li>The chart shows support and resistance zones for MSFT.</li>
<li>RSI on the chart shows MSFT stock is overbought.&nbsp; Overbought stocks are susceptible to a pullback.</li>
<li>The Arora Report previously shared with readers a major milestone in AI progress – human-like reasoning capabilities using chain link thinking in Model 4o from OpenAI.</li>
<li>ChatGPT-4o is a large language model.</li>
<li>In further AI progress, Microsoft has introduced Phi-4.&nbsp; Phi-4 is a small language model that outperforms GPT-4o in certain mathematical reasoning.&nbsp; Phi-4 is only a fraction of the size of GPT-4o.&nbsp; It appears that Phi-4 can do better in solving certain math problems compared to its teacher model GPT-4o.&nbsp; Also of note is that Microsoft trained Phi-4 mostly on synthetic data.</li>
<li>The foregoing is important for investors as investors need to get ahead of the curve.&nbsp; In The Arora Report analysis, Phi-4 challenges the present belief that bigger is better.</li>
<li>In The Arora Report analysis, small language models such as Phi-4 have a very bright future.&nbsp; There is a fortune to be made in AI between now and 2030.&nbsp; However, it will not be in a straight line.&nbsp; At times, it will be treacherous.</li>
<li>There is excitement in the stock market this morning as it was announced Friday after the close that AI software company Palantir Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) and big bitcoin holder MicroStrategy Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) are being added to the Nasdaq 100.</li>
<li>The Arora Report has previously written that one of the things Trump can do to reduce inflation from his policies is to attract foreign investment to the U.S.&nbsp; In the first sign of success for Trump, Japan's SoftBank Group Corp &#8211; ADR (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) CEO Masayoshi Son will announce at Mar-a-Largo a $100B investment in the U.S. over the next four years.</li>
<li>There is also buying in the early trade as the market believes it is a certainty that the Fed will cut interest rates this week in spite of the data not supporting such a rate cut.</li>
<li>Markets in the U.S. are not being impacted by weakness in Europe and Asia as there was powerful pumping of stocks in the media over the weekend.&nbsp; Retail investors tend to be influenced by the weekend pump and buy on Monday morning.</li>
</ul>
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">France</h4>
Moody's has cut France's credit rating.&nbsp; French stocks and bonds are falling.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">China</h4>
Markets all across the globe are being negatively impacted by weak retail sales data in China.
Retail sales in China came at 3.0% year-over-year vs 4.8% consensus.
Concern is building that the Chinese consumer is not spending in spite of stimulus measures by the government.
In The Arora Report analysis, investors should note the sharp contrast between U.S. consumers and Chinese consumers at this time.&nbsp; U.S. consumers are on a buying binge.&nbsp; Chinese consumers are holding back and are focused on savings.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Magnificent Seven Money Flows</h4>
In the early trade, money flows are positive in Amazon.com, Inc., Alphabet Inc Class C , Meta Platforms Inc , NVIDIA Corp , and Tesla Inc.
In the early trade, money flows are neutral in Apple Inc and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>).
In the early trade, money flows are positive in SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>).
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Momo Crowd And Smart Money In Stocks</h4>
Investors can gain an edge by knowing money flows in SPY and QQQ.&nbsp; Investors can get a bigger edge by knowing when smart money is buying stocks, gold, and oil.&nbsp; The most popular ETF for gold is SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>).&nbsp; The most popular ETF for silver is iShares Silver Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLV#NYSE">SLV</a>).&nbsp; The most popular ETF for oil is United States Oil ETF (ASCA:USO).
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Bitcoin</h4>
Over the weekend, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) ran over $106,000 on a rumor that Trump will announce the bitcoin reserve on day 1.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Protection Band And What To Do Now</h4>
It is important for investors to look ahead and not in the rearview mirror.&nbsp; The proprietary protection band from The Arora Report is very popular.&nbsp; The protection band puts all of the data, all of the indicators, all of the news, all of the crosscurrents, all of the models, and all of the analysis in an analytical framework that is easily actionable by investors.
Consider continuing to hold good, very long term, existing positions. Based on individual risk preference, consider holding Consider continuing to hold good, very long term, existing positions. Based on individual risk preference, consider a protection band consisting of cash or Treasury bills or short-term tactical trades as well as short to medium term hedges and short term hedges. This is a good way to protect yourself and participate in the upside at the same time.
You can determine your protection bands by adding cash to hedges.&nbsp; The high band of the protection is appropriate for those who are older or conservative. The low band of the protection is appropriate for those who are younger or aggressive.&nbsp; If you do not hedge, the total cash level should be more than stated above but significantly less than cash plus hedges.
A protection band of 0% would be very bullish and would indicate full investment with 0% in cash.&nbsp; A protection band of 100% would be very bearish and would indicate a need for aggressive protection with cash and hedges or aggressive short selling.
It is worth reminding that you cannot take advantage of new upcoming opportunities if you are not holding enough cash.&nbsp; When adjusting hedge levels, consider adjusting partial stop quantities for stock positions (non ETF); consider using wider stops on remaining quantities and also allowing more room for high beta stocks.&nbsp; High beta stocks are the ones that move more than the market.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Traditional 60/40 Portfolio</h4>
Probability based risk reward adjusted for inflation does not favor long duration strategic bond allocation at this time.
Those who want to stick to traditional 60% allocation to stocks and 40% to bonds may consider focusing on only high quality bonds and bonds of five year duration or less.&nbsp; Those willing to bring sophistication to their investing may consider using bond ETFs as tactical positions and not strategic positions at this time.
The Arora Report is known for its accurate calls. The Arora Report correctly called the big artificial intelligence rally before anyone else, the new bull market of 2023, the bear market of 2022, new stock market highs right after the virus low in 2020, the virus drop in 2020, the DJIA rally to 30,000 when it was trading at 16,000, the start of a mega bull market in 2009, and the financial crash of 2008. Please click here to sign up for a free forever <a href="https://thearorareport.com/generate-wealth-newsletter-benzinga">Generate Wealth Newsletter</a>.

Large Cap

MSTR

PLTR

AI Progress From Microsoft – Phi-4 Outperforms Human-like reasoner AI Model GPT-4o, Bitcoin Rumor

Japanese company SoftBank (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>)(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) announced a $100 billion investment and 100,000 jobs created in a commitment to the U.S. on Monday,<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42505666/softbanks-masayoshi-son-to-reportedly-announce-100b-us-investment-during-meeting-with-trump"> confirming earlier reports</a>.
What Happened: SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son made the announcement alongside President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago Monday, showing his confidence in the economic health of the U.S. since <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/24/12/42511472/trump-hits-7-year-high-in-favorability-ratings-how-republicans-democrats-men-and-women-view-president-elect">Trump won the 2024 election.</a>
"My confidence level to the economy of the United States has tremendously increased with his victory," Son said, acknowledging Trump.
Son said he is excited to commit $100 billion and 100,000 jobs to the U.S. as a sign of confidence in what's to come.
"This is double of last time as President Trump said, because I say President Trump is a double down president. I'm going to have to double down."
Son said business is important and technology is important. The CEO also expressed confidence Trump can bring "the world into peace again."
"That's my additional hope."
Trump praised Son as one of the top voices and figures in emerging technology, calling him a "brilliant guy."
"This historic investment is a monumental demonstration of confidence in America's future, and it will help ensure that artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and other industries of tomorrow are built, created and grown right here in the U.S.A." Trump said.
Trump reminded people that SoftBank committed to invest $50 billion after the 2016 election and said that it kept that promise.
After Son spoke, Trump asked the SoftBank CEO if he would make it $200 billion, putting him on the spot for a larger commitment.
Son said his promise is for $100 billion.
"I will try to make it happen. He is a great negotiator," Son said.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/11/41929194/nvidia-and-softbank-to-build-japans-top-ai-supercomputer-on-blackwell-platform-jensen-huang-says-tokyo-is-leaping-into-the-ai-industrial-revolution">Nvidia And SoftBank To Build Japan&#8217;s Top AI Supercomputer On Blackwell Platform — Jensen Huang Says Tokyo Is &#8216;Leaping Into The AI Industrial Revolution&#8217;</a>
Why It's Important: The $100 billion and jobs commitments will come over the next four years and could show a strengthened relationship between one of the largest Asian investment companies and the U.S.
Softbank is the owner of the Softbank Vision Fund, one of the largest technology-focused investment funds worldwide. The company is also a key investor in Arm Holdings and OpenAI.
"You'll have my support. You'll have our country's support," Trump said to Son.
The announcement could show strengthened relationships between the U.S. and Japan, which comes as the president-elect has<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/11/42028954/peter-thiel-says-trumps-60-china-tariff-would-be-very-very-bad-for-beijing-heres-whats-at-stake"> threatened higher tariffs</a> on goods exported from China.
Since winning the 2024 election, business leaders from the U.S. and other countries flocked to gain support from Trump and push for future growth.
Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and Sam Altman have<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/24/12/42485193/sam-altman-to-donate-1m-to-trumps-inauguration-fund-following-zuckerberg-bezos-eager-to-support"> each pledged $1 million</a> to Trump's inauguration fund through their companies or personal wealth. Apple CEO Tim Cook also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42495714/tim-cook-dines-with-donald-trump-at-mar-a-lago-to-strengthen-apples-position-as-zuckerberg-and-pichai-repair-ties-and-jeff-bezos-prepares-for-his-turn-report">recently met with</a> Trump in a potential show of support from the technology giant.
The world's richest man Elon Musk has been a supporter of Trump and is also set to have a role in the new White House administration as the co-leader of the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk's influence on Trump could lead to new government regulations that could benefit Tesla and SpaceX and help add to his wealth.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/11/42227972/softbank-secures-bigger-openai-stake-with-1-5b-employee-share-buyout-report">SoftBank Secures Bigger OpenAI Stake With $1.5B Employee Share Buyout: Report</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: NP27 on Shutterstock

Politics

Trump Says SoftBank's $100B Commitment To US Is 'Monumental Demonstration Of Confidence In America's Future'

Softbank (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) CEO Masayoshi Son is expected to declare a $100 billion investment in the United States during a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach, Florida on Monday.
What Happened: The Japanese tech-investing giant&#8217;s founder will also commit to creating 100,000 jobs in AI and related infrastructure, according to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/16/softbank-ceo-to-announce-100-billion-investment-in-us-during-visit-with-trump.html">CNBC</a> sources. This investment is anticipated to be finalized by the end of Trump&#8217;s term.
The funding may come from various Softbank-controlled sources, including the Vision Fund, capital projects, or chipmaker Arm Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>), where Softbank holds a majority stake. Some of the funds might not be newly raised, potentially including previously announced investments like Softbank&#8217;s $1.5 billion in OpenAI.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42499950/crypto-analyst-shiba-inu-price-set-for-massive-surge-could-go-up-sixfold?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Crypto Analyst: Shiba Inu Price Set For Massive Surge, Could Go Up Sixfold</a>
This announcement echoes a similar pledge made in 2016 when Softbank agreed&nbsp;to invest $50 billion in&nbsp;the U.S. to create 50,000 jobs following Trump&#8217;s first election victory.
Why It Matters: The announcement comes at a time when investor sentiment is shifting back toward the ‘BoJ trade,' a strategy involving long positions in Japanese equities and banks, while shorting the yen and Japanese government bonds (JGBs). This renewed interest has gained traction, especially after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42470155/trumps-win-kicks-the-boj-trade-back-into-gear-is-japan-the-new-inflation-play">Trump&#8217;s election win</a>, as noted by JPMorgan analyst Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou. The yen has weakened, moving from 150 to 153 against the dollar, and the probability of a December rate hike has dropped significantly.
Additionally, the backdrop of this investment includes <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42502247/trumps-ex-secretary-of-state-mike-pompeo-backs-nippon-steels-149b-acquisition-of-us-steel-citing-national-security-concerns">national security concerns</a> surrounding foreign investments in the U.S. Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently supported Nippon Steel Corp.&#8217;s proposed $14.9 billion acquisition of United States Steel Corp., citing the need to strengthen America's position against Chinese market dominance. This deal faces opposition from both President Joe Biden and Trump, with Biden expected to block it on national security grounds.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42497241/shiba-inu-burn-rate-skyrockets-515-33-will-the-price-increase?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shiba Inu Burn Rate Skyrockets 515.33%</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo by Nobuyuki Hayashi on Shutterstock

General

Softbank's Masayoshi Son To Reportedly Announce $100B US Investment During Meeting With Trump

OpenAI enables employees to sell up to $1.5 billion worth of shares in a tender offer led by SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>). 
What Happened: The transaction, set to close by Dec 24, allows SoftBank to deepen its stake in the AI leader while offering liquidity to current and former employees, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/26/openai-gets-1point5-billion-investment-from-softbank-in-tender-offer.html">reported</a> CNBC, citing people familiar with the matter.
The deal, priced at $210 per share, aligns with OpenAI&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41149788/openai-valuation-soars-to-157b-in-latest-funding-round">recent $157 billion valuation</a>. SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son drove the move, following a $500 million investment in OpenAI's last funding round. This marks another step in Son's aggressive AI strategy, with SoftBank's Vision Fund 2 also backing startups like Glean and Perplexity.
OpenAI, backed by $13 billion in funding from investors including Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), has emphasized the importance of such tender offers amid a dormant IPO market. 
This initiative reflects the company&#8217;s commitment to employee satisfaction and continued capital-raising to sustain its growth in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/10/41312615/investors-pour-billions-into-openai-whats-driving-this-unprecedented-surge-in-funding">competitive generative AI market</a>.
SoftBank and OpenAI did not immediately respond to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a>'s request for comment.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

SoftBank Secures Bigger OpenAI Stake With $1.5B Employee Share Buyout: Report

NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) CEO Jensen Huang on Wednesday said that he passed on an opportunity to acquire full ownership of the chipmaker, now valued at $3.6 trillion when SoftBank Group&#8216;s (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) Masayoshi Son offered financial backing years ago.
What Happened: During a candid exchange at Nvidia&#8217;s AI summit in Tokyo, Huang revealed that Son approached him about a decade ago with an offer to help finance a complete buyout of Nvidia, believing the stock market undervalued the company at the time.
&#8220;Now I regret not taking you up,&#8221; Huang told Son during their public conversation. &#8220;That was a great idea.&#8221;
The conversation took a lighter turn when Son playfully pretended to cry on Huang&#8217;s shoulder after discussing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/06/39429393/regret-missing-out-on-nvidia-rally-youre-not-alone-as-softbanks-masayoshi-son-laments-157b-lost-">SoftBank&#8217;s early exit from Nvidia investments</a>. &#8220;We can cry together,&#8221; Huang joked. &#8220;Could you imagine if today, you were the largest shareholder?&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/41960833/cathie-wood-cashes-out-on-rocket-labs-28-surge-in-9m-share-sale-but-expands-bet-on-flying-cars">Cathie Wood Cashes Out On Rocket Lab&#8217;s 28% Surge in $9M Share Sale But Expands Bet On Flying Cars</a>
Why It Matters: Nvidia&#8217;s remarkable ascent has been fueled by the artificial intelligence boom, with the company&#8217;s chips playing a crucial role in powering AI technologies. The company&#8217;s stock has surged nearly 200% this year alone, propelling Huang&#8217;s net worth to $128 billion and making him the 11th richest person globally, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
The discussion preceded the announcement of a new <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/11/41929194/nvidia-and-softbank-to-build-japans-top-ai-supercomputer-on-blackwell-platform-jensen-huang-says-tokyo-is-leaping-into-the-ai-industrial-revolution">partnership between Nvidia and SoftBank</a> to develop Japan&#8217;s most powerful AI supercomputer, marking a significant development in Japan&#8217;s AI infrastructure expansion.
Son, who ranks 133rd on Bloomberg&#8217;s wealth index with a $15.9 billion fortune, has seen his wealth increase by more than $5 billion this year, though that pales in comparison to what might have been had SoftBank retained its earlier Nvidia investments.
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Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Nvidia's CEO Reveals The Massive Deal He Missed And Why It Is Today A $3.6 Trillion Regret

SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) has made a significant financial turnaround, reporting a profit of $7.8 billion in its latest quarter, largely attributed to successful Indian <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/11/41929194/nvidia-and-softbank-to-build-japans-top-ai-supercomputer-on-blackwell-platform-jensen-huang-says-tokyo-is-leaping-into-the-ai-industrial-revolution">IPOs and improved tech valuations</a>.
What Happened: The Japanese conglomerate&#8217;s profit in the quarter ending September starkly contrasts the $6.05 billion loss in the same period last year, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/a86569e7-8743-4474-a6a8-13a3f30085e3">reported</a> the Financial Times.
The Vision Fund, known for its high-risk, tech-heavy investments, contributed to this turnaround with a $3.95 billion profit. This is the first time in nine quarters that the Vision Fund&#8217;s cumulative investment gains have turned positive.
Notable IPOs in India, including those of Ola Electric and FirstCry, have significantly boosted SoftBank&#8217;s valuations. The company&#8217;s CFO, Yoshimitsu Goto, highlighted the positive impact of these IPOs, which lifted valuations by $1.7 billion.
Other factors contributing to SoftBank&#8217;s improved financial position include valuation gains at Coupang in South Korea and DiDi in China, as well as a favorable impact on net income from the weak yen.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/41890968/bitcoin-kisses-89500-ethereum-dogecoin-extend-trump-victory-rally-how-long-before-btc-hits-100000-analysts-reveal?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin Hovers Around $90K, Ethereum, Dogecoin Extend Trump Victory Rally: How Long Before BTC Hits $100,000? Analysts Reveal</a>
Why It Matters: SoftBank&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40387488/masayoshi-sons-plans-to-rival-nvidia-with-softbanks-own-ai-chip-production-hit-a-roadblock-as-intel">interest in AI</a> has been a recurring theme, with CEO Masayoshi Son predicting the advent of artificial superintelligence within a decade.
More recently, SoftBank has been in the news for its plans to rival Nvidia with its own AI chip production. However, these plans hit a roadblock as negotiations with Intel <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40387488/masayoshi-sons-plans-to-rival-nvidia-with-softbanks-own-ai-chip-production-hit-a-roadblock-as-intel">reportedly fell through</a>. This latest financial success may provide SoftBank with the resources to further pursue its AI ambitions.
In August, SoftBank <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/08/40213337/masayoshi-sons-softbank-announces-3-4b-share-buyback-as-vision-fund-tech-arm-yields-investment-gains">announced a $3.4 billion share buyback program</a>, following pressure from concerned shareholders. 
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Image Via Shutterstock 
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

SoftBank Is In Profit Once Again Thanks To Indian IPOs: What's Next For Masayoshi Son?

Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) and SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) announced a partnership on Tuesday to establish Japan&#8217;s most powerful artificial intelligence supercomputer, marking a significant step in the country&#8217;s push to become a global AI powerhouse.
What Happened: The collaboration unveiled at the Nvidia AI Summit Japan, centers on SoftBank&#8217;s implementation of Nvidia&#8217;s advanced Blackwell platform and plans to utilize the Nvidia Grace Blackwell platform for future supercomputing initiatives.
&#8220;Japan has a long history of pioneering technological innovations with global impact,&#8221; said Jensen Huang, Nvidia&#8217;s founder and CEO. &#8220;With SoftBank&#8217;s significant investment in Nvidia&#8217;s full-stack AI, Omniverse and 5G AI-RAN platforms, Japan is leaping into the AI industrial revolution.&#8221;
SoftBank has successfully piloted the world&#8217;s first combined AI and 5G telecom network using Nvidia&#8217;s AI Aerial platform. This innovation could potentially generate billions in new revenue for global telecom operators by transforming base stations from cost centers into AI revenue-producing assets.
&#8220;Countries and regions worldwide are accelerating the adoption of AI for social and economic growth,&#8221; said Junichi Miyakawa, SoftBank&#8217;s president and CEO. &#8220;Through our long collaboration with Nvidia, SoftBank is leading this transformation from the forefront.&#8221;
The partnership includes several key initiatives:
<ul>
<li>SoftBank will receive the world&#8217;s first Nvidia DGX B200 systems for its new DGX SuperPOD supercomputer</li>
<li>Development of an AI marketplace using Nvidia AI Enterprise software</li>
<li>Implementation of Nvidia&#8217;s AI-RAN solution, which SoftBank estimates can reduce power consumption by 40% compared to traditional 5G infrastructure</li>
</ul>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/41927135/greg-brockman-returns-to-work-at-chatgpts-parent-company-back-to-building-openai">Greg Brockman Returns To Work At ChatGPT&#8217;s Parent Company: &#8216;Back To Building OpenAI&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The collaboration represents a strategic shift for both companies, with SoftBank estimating potential returns of up to 219% for each AI-RAN server added to its infrastructure. The company plans to begin global deployment of its AI-RAN solution, dubbed &#8220;AITRAS,&#8221; in 2026.
This partnership follows SoftBank&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/07/39743441/after-losing-150b-nvidia-opportunity-masayoshi-sons-softbank-acquires-uk-chipmaker-graphcore-in-">recent moves in the AI sector</a>, including its $960 million investment commitment for developing Japanese-language AI models and its acquisition of UK-based chipmaker Graphcore.
The initiative is expected to accelerate Japan&#8217;s position in the global AI race while providing new opportunities for telecommunications, transportation, robotics, and healthcare industries.
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Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Nvidia And SoftBank To Build Japan's Top AI Supercomputer On Blackwell Platform — Jensen Huang Says Tokyo Is 'Leaping Into The AI Industrial Revolution'

SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) reported quarterly losses of $(0.40) per share. This is a 67.21 percent increase over losses of $(1.22) per share from the same period last year. The company reported $10.92 billion in sales this quarter. This is a 3.82 percent decrease over sales of $11.35 billion the same period last year.

Earnings

SoftBank Group Q1 EPS $(0.40) Up From $(1.22) YoY, Sales $10.92B Down From $11.35B YoY

<a href="https://www.semafor.com/article/10/21/2024/apollo-softbank-eyed-giant-ai-investment-fund">https://www.semafor.com/article/10/21/2024/apollo-softbank-eyed-giant-ai-investment-fund</a>
&nbsp;
<h3>The Scoop</h3>
SoftBank and Apollo discussed a giant fund to invest in data centers, chip factories, and other AI projects, joining a stampede of capital rushing to fund the next digital revolution.
The two talked about setting up a fund of more than $20 billion, people familiar with the matter said, though the talks have cooled since the summer and may go nowhere. The venture would likely involve industry partners including Arm, the chip giant that is majority-owned by SoftBank, the people said. One person familiar with the matter said SoftBank had also had talks with other funding sources, though those with Apollo were the most advanced.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son has been <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-16/masayoshi-son-seeks-to-build-a-100-billion-ai-chip-venture">looking for a deep-pocketed partner</a> to build a competitor to Nvidia, which dominates the market for high-end AI chips, Bloomberg reported in February. He's no stranger to giant, bet-the-farm funds that underwrite whole sectors. His $100 billion Vision Fund, launched in 2017, did as much as any investor to inflate the unicorn bubble, and overbet on startups only lightly enabled by tech, like on-demand dog-walking and, famously, WeWork.
Now Son is all in on artificial intelligence, which he says will be 10 times smarter than all of human intelligence by 2030 and <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/21/softbank-ceo-predicts-ai-that-is-10000-times-smarter-than-humans-.html">10,000 times</a> smarter a few years after that. He has <a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/softbanks-son-says-artificial-general-intelligence-will-soon-surpass-humans-8bcdb47f?mod=tech_lead_story">admitted to asking ChatGPT</a> for investment advice, warned that companies have to "take advantage of it or be left behind," and in a presentation slide that was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/softbank-ceo-masayoshi-son-on-ai-doubters-being-left-behind-2023-10">puzzling</a> even by Son's enigmatic standards, compared AI doubters to goldfish.
Representatives for both companies declined to comment.

'Apollo, SoftBank Discussed A Giant Fund To Invest In Data Centers' - Semafor

In a bid to restructure its operations, Jellysmack, a SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>)-backed creator-economy startup, is laying off employees and reducing its creator program.
What Happened: Jellysmack is undergoing a reorganization and will be downsizing its workforce, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/jellysmack-is-laying-off-staff-as-it-scales-back-its-creator-program/articleshow/114434680.cms">reported</a> Business Insider. The company has confirmed that 22 U.S.-based employees will be affected, with French employees also facing potential layoffs in the coming months.
The company is shifting its focus to its content business, which includes YouTube channels like Gamology, House of Bounce, Beauty Studio, and Oh My Goal. It is scaling back a program that helped creators earn money by posting content on Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>)-owned apps like Facebook.
&#8220;Jellysmack is making organizational adjustments to better align resources with key areas of growth,&#8221; a company representative said according to the report. &#8220;Jellysmack&#8217;s goal is to prioritize and invest in our business units that hold IP, given their continued success on YouTube.&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41420488/shiba-inu-ready-for-a-lift-off-to-the-moon-popular-analyst-predicts-50-surge-for-memecoin-?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shiba Inu Ready For A Lift-Off To The Moon? Popular Analyst Predicts 50% Surge For Memecoin As Burn Rate Spikes 389%</a>
This move comes after Jellysmack faced challenges in its business, including a decrease in monetization across platforms. The company, which initially focused on creating its own YouTube content, shifted to working with other creators to edit and recirculate their content across platforms like Facebook and Snap Inc&#8216;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNAP#NYSE">SNAP</a>) Snapchat to capture additional ad revenue.
Why It Matters: Jellysmack&#8217;s decision to restructure its operations and focus on its content business comes at a time when the creator economy is undergoing significant changes. Meta Platforms Inc. has also been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41375934/meta-confirms-layoffs-across-instagram-whatsapp-and-reality-labs-amid-strategic-reshuffle">restructuring its operations and laying off employees</a> across Instagram, WhatsApp, and Reality Labs. This is part of a broader trend of tech companies reevaluating their strategies and operations, which has been ongoing for some time.
This was part of a strategic reshuffle aimed at boosting efficiency. The company has also been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37501959/meta-employees-fear-layoffs-as-companys-year-of-efficiency-becomes-permanent-report">undergoing a prolonged process of evaluating individual employee performance for 2023</a>, with the reviews now concluding. This has left many employees anxious about their job security.
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Image Via Unsplash 
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

SNAP

SoftBank-Backed Jellysmack Restructures, Lays Off Employees, And Scales Back Creator Program On Meta Platforms

Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>), has forecasted the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/09/40836225/human-like-reasoning-strawberry-ahead-aggressive-nvidia-buying-hotter-inflation-data">advent of artificial superintelligence</a> within the next ten years. This revelation was shared during the SoftBank World 2024 conference.
What Happened: Son, Japan&#8217;s second wealthiest individual, commended OpenAI for its recent technological strides. He specifically mentioned the new GPT-o1 models, codenamed &#8220;Strawberry,&#8221; which he believes have developed reasoning capabilities, <a href="https://observer.com/2024/10/softbank-masayoshi-son-ai-openai-investment/">reported</a> the Observer on Friday. 
"This technology will evolve to a point&nbsp;where your happiness will be its greatest reward," said Son. He claimed that ASI, which would be 10,000 times more powerful than human intelligence, could be achieved within a decade.
Son envisions a future where AI can perform everyday tasks, such as grocery shopping and investment management, ultimately enhancing human happiness. His optimistic outlook is consistent with his history of making bold tech investments.
Looking forward, Son anticipates the achievement of artificial general intelligence, which matches human intelligence, within two to three years. 
He also predicts artificial superintelligence, surpassing human capabilities, within a decade. SoftBank&#8217;s AI strategy is centered around ARM Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>), a U.K.-based chip designer, with plans to expand into AI chips, data centers, and industrial robots.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41020589/tech-youtuber-mkbhd-responds-after-facing-massive-backlash-over-his-new-12-a-month-wallpaper-app?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tech YouTuber MKBHD Responds After Facing Massive Backlash Over His New $12 A Month Wallpaper App</a>
Why It Matters: Son&#8217;s prediction comes amid <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/09/40836225/human-like-reasoning-strawberry-ahead-aggressive-nvidia-buying-hotter-inflation-data">growing interest</a> in A.I. advancements, particularly with OpenAI&#8217;s &#8220;Strawberry&#8221; models. These models are noted for their human-like reasoning capabilities, which could revolutionize various industries.
However, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40387488/masayoshi-sons-plans-to-rival-nvidia-with-softbanks-own-ai-chip-production-hit-a-roadblock-as-intel">SoftBank&#8217;s ambitions</a> to rival NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) in A.I. chip production reportedly faced setbacks when talks with Intel Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) fell through. Despite this, SoftBank is exploring partnerships with other manufacturers like Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>).
Additionally, Son&#8217;s focus on AI aligns with Sam Altman&#8216;s commitment to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38608040/openais-sam-altman-says-were-making-agi-and-it-will-be-worth-it-dont-care-if-we-burn-500m-or-50b">developing artificial general intelligence</a>, regardless of the financial cost. This shared vision underscores the significant investments and strategic shifts occurring in the A.I. sector.
Interestingly, SoftBank&#8217;s past decision to sell its Nvidia shares in 2019 resulted in a missed opportunity, as those shares would <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/24/06/39489510/the-150-billion-opportunity-softbank-lost-by-selling-nvidia-shares-too-soon">now be approximately worth over $150 billion</a>. This highlights the high stakes and rapid evolution of the AI and tech investment landscape.
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Image Via Shutterstock
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

SoftBank's Masayoshi Son Predicts Artificial Superintelligence Within A Decade After Testing OpenAI's 'Strawberry' Models

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