Softbank news and trends

OpenAI Reportedly Slated for $500 Million SoftBank Investment

September 30, 2024
AI Surge Drives Tech Industry Growth for Micron, Alibaba and Perplexity
artificial intelligence // June 27, 2024

The artificial intelligence (AI) boom is reshaping the tech landscape, with industry giants and startups reporting significant gains and attracting major investments. Memory chip maker Micron Technology announced robust quarterly results fueled by AI demand, while eCommerce giant Alibaba.com rolled out AI tools to empower...

SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son: AI Will Drive ‘Evolution of Humanity’
artificial intelligence // June 21, 2024

Ten years from now, artificial intelligence (AI) will be 10,000 times smarter than humans, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son reportedly said Friday (June 21). Speaking during SoftBank’s annual general meeting of shareholders, Son dubbed this degree of AI “artificial super intelligence (ASI),” CNBC reported Friday. Son added that within...

Report: Revolut Planning Share Sale at $40 Billion Valuation
Digital Banking // June 21, 2024

Revolut is reportedly planning a share sale and seeking a valuation that would be close to that of Lloyds Banking Group. The British FinTech is seeking a valuation of greater than $40 billion as it works to sell about $500 million worth of employee shares...

SoftBank Plans to Commit $9 Billion to AI Projects
artificial intelligence // May 26, 2024

Japan’s SoftBank is reportedly planning to invest nearly $9 billion in artificial intelligence (AI). The tech company’s outlay for investments and commitments has more than doubled to $8.9 billion in the 12 months since its CEO said the company was ready to go on the “counteroffensive,”...

Interviews & Exclusives
Meet the Titans: Major Players Funding the Future of AI

March 21, 2024
Saudi Arabia aims to carve out a leadership role in the burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) field with a proposed $40 billion investment fund, as The New York Times reported. The country is one of many global giants in the race to shape the future of AI, including Andreessen Horowitz and Nvidia, with investments in generative […]

SoftBank Puts ‘Pepper’ Robot On Hold As Bot Biz Does Some Soul-Searching

June 29, 2021
In its latest move to redefine the firm’s relationship to robotics, SoftBank announced that it has halted production on its Pepper robot. It is the firm’s second major move away...

Today In Payments: Mastercard To Join China’s $27T Payments Market; Uber, Postmates Lose Bid To...

February 11, 2020
In today’s top payments news, Mastercard was approved for a bank card clearing business in China, and a judge rejected Uber and Postmates’ request to stop California’s new gig economy law....

SoftBank-Backed Brandless Goes Bust

February 11, 2020
For its three years in operation, Brandless generated no shortage of buzz with its concept of “private label for less” and the idea that the best brand is no brand...

Quick Reads
OpenAI Reportedly Slated for $500 Million SoftBank Investment

September 30, 2024
Japan’s SoftBank is reportedly planning to invest in OpenAI’s multi-billion dollar funding round. The $500 million investment would come from the bank’s Vision Fund, The Information reported Monday (Sept. 30), citing a source familiar with the matter. The news follows recent reports that OpenAI was in talks to raise $6.5 billion in a funding round that would […]

SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son: AI Will Drive ‘Evolution of Humanity’

June 21, 2024
Ten years from now, artificial intelligence (AI) will be 10,000 times smarter than humans, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son reportedly said Friday (June 21). Speaking during SoftBank’s annual general meeting of shareholders, Son...

Report: Revolut Planning Share Sale at $40 Billion Valuation

June 21, 2024
Revolut is reportedly planning a share sale and seeking a valuation that would be close to that of Lloyds Banking Group. The British FinTech is seeking a valuation of greater...

SoftBank Plans to Commit $9 Billion to AI Projects

May 26, 2024
Japan’s SoftBank is reportedly planning to invest nearly $9 billion in artificial intelligence (AI). The tech company’s outlay for investments and commitments has more than doubled to $8.9 billion in the...