
SoftBank’s $60 Billion OpenAI Bet Sparks Concerns
From Big Take Asia by Bloomberg
May 19, 2026 · 20 min
About this episode
The episode discusses SoftBank's significant investment in OpenAI and the implications for its founder's reputation amidst growing concerns.
SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son has made a $60 billion bet on OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman – a commitment that has some insiders worried. On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha speaks with Bloomberg’s Min-Jeong Lee about how Son became captivated by Altman and what’s at stake for his reputation – and the company – as the AI race intensifies. We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer. Read more: SoftBank Founder’s Starstruck Bet on OpenAI Raises Concern Watch, from Originals: The Troubled Saga of Masa Son's $100 Billion Fund See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
People in this episode
Host: K. Oanh Ha
Guest: Min-Jeong Lee
Topics covered
- SoftBank
- OpenAI
- investment
- AI race
- reputation
- business strategy
Keywords
- SoftBank
- OpenAI
- Masayoshi Son
- Sam Altman
- investment
- AI
- business
Sponsors
Bloomberg
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: SoftBank, Bloomberg
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