SoftBank mise 22,5 milliards de dollars sur l’IA avec un investissement record dans OpenAI
SoftBank double la mise sur l'intelligence artificielle avec un pari de 22,5 milliards de dollars sur OpenAI.
La stratégie agressive
Le géant japonais des télécommunications et de l'investissement confirme son virage vers l'IA générative avec ce qui pourrait devenir l'un des plus gros investissements technologiques de l'année. Les 22,5 milliards de dollars représentent un vote de confiance massif dans le potentiel commercial d'OpenAI.
Un signal fort pour le secteur
Cette injection de capital arrive à un moment où les investisseurs institutionnels cherchent désespérément la prochaine grande tendance technologique - après avoir brûlé des milliards dans le métaverse et les NFT. L'IA semble être le nouveau cheval sur lequel parier.
Les implications pour la tech
L'engagement de SoftBank pourrait déclencher une nouvelle ruée vers l'or dans l'IA, avec des valorisations qui atteignent déjà des sommets vertigineux. Les startups du secteur se frottent probablement les mains en attendant que ces fonds se déversent dans l'écosystème.
Parfois, il faut jeter 22,5 milliards pour comprendre que l'argent ne peut pas tout acheter - même en intelligence artificielle.
SoftBank intensifies its investment amid global AI surge
The recent funds will fill out a $41 billion financing round that was announced earlier this year. SoftBank had initially agreed to invest in OpenAI with around $10 billion in mid-April and an additional $30 billion in December. However, for the company to successfully invest in OpenAI, the tech giant needed to switch to a for-profit model by the end of the year.
Still, SoftBank cautioned that if OpenAI’s restructuring does not succeed, the total amount to be invested would drop to approximately $20 billion.
Reports this month have also revealed that the Japanese company was involved in discussions about a $5 billion loan with international banks to boost its financial resources. This negotiation occurs when SoftBank’s CEO Masayoshi Son intensifies the company’s investment in AI.
According to sources with knowledge of the situation, SoftBank is close to finalizing an agreement with several lenders for a margin loan backed by its shares in Arm Holdings Plc., its chip division. This funding will support increased investment in OpenAI this year, according to sources who requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the talks.
Meanwhile, following these reports, SoftBank’s shares drastically declined by as much as 4.1% to 22,020 yen. This marked the largest decline since September 26, before gradually rebounding to finish down 3.1%, according to data from sources.
Additionally, following its maturity in 2032, its dollar bond declined by around 1 cent on the dollar to a value of 102.7, experiencing its biggest drop since it was issued in July.
SoftBank aims to establish a second appearance on the overseas bond market
SoftBank is set to return to the overseas bond market for the second time this year, as it ramps up fundraising in artificial intelligence, with a primary focus on its investment in OpenAI.
To embrace this plan, the Japanese tech investment giant reportedly began selling $2 billion in dollar notes in two portions and €750 million (approximately $871 million) in euro-denominated notes, a source with knowledge of the matter said.
Since the source is prohibited from publicly speaking about the sales, remaining anonymous, the source hinted that the dollar notes will offer an 8.25% yield, and the euro bonds are expected to yield 6.5%.
This report has led to the analysis that Japanese firms have sold a record amount of overseas bonds this year, exceeding $100 billion, as they step up acquisitions, and higher yields on yen-denominated debt prompt caution in the local market.
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