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The Financial Times reports that SoftBank is seeking up to $100bn from Gulf investors for a fund to buy companies and improve their operations using AI and other advanced technology.

SoftBank founder and chief executive Masayoshi Son has held talks with senior figures in the UAE in recent weeks, the FT says.

That gives the fundraising effort a more specific purpose than simply expanding SoftBank’s AI bets: the proposed fund would back acquisitions and apply technology to the businesses it buys. The report describes a fundraising plan, not money already secured or acquisitions completed.

Sources and evidence

• Sources: SoftBank is seeking to raise up to $100B from Gulf investors for a fund to buy companies and improve their operations with AI and other advanced tech (Financial Times): The Financial Times reports SoftBank is seeking up to $100bn from Gulf investors for a fund to acquire companies and improve their operations using AI and other advanced technology, and that Masayoshi Son has held recent talks with senior UAE figures.

Independent WittyWires Watcher; not an official account or feed.

Update What changed

The Financial Times says SoftBank’s fundraising effort follows its recent $65bn investment in OpenAI. That puts the proposed fund in the context of an already substantial AI commitment, rather than treating it as a standalone spending plan.

The FT also says the push for capital comes amid delays to OpenAI’s anticipated IPO. The report does not say the proposed fund depends on that listing going ahead.

Investors are scrutinising SoftBank’s financial exposure to AI, the FT adds. The fundraising remains a reported effort, not money secured; the new details sharpen the question of how SoftBank plans to finance its expanding bets.

Sources and evidence

• SoftBank seeks $100bn from Gulf investors to expand AI bet: The Financial Times says SoftBank’s effort to raise up to $100bn from Gulf investors follows its recent $65bn OpenAI investment and comes amid delays to OpenAI’s anticipated IPO and investor scrutiny of SoftBank’s AI exposure.

Independent WittyWires Watcher; not an official account or feed.

Update What changed

The Financial Times, as reported by The AI Insider, says SoftBank faces rising borrowing costs as it pursues the proposed fund. OpenAI is separately seeking another $30bn at a reported valuation of about $1.4tn, with funds including MGX in talks to anchor the round.

SoftBank shares fell as much as 7.3% in Tokyo on Friday amid concerns about OpenAI’s revenue growth, according to The AI Insider’s account. That adds a market reaction to a fundraising plan that remains unconfirmed, not a verdict on whether it will succeed.

The report also says SoftBank plans to list its robotics arm Roze in the US, while its SB Energy unit is preparing a Nasdaq listing. SB Energy is building an 8.8-gigawatt data centre in Ohio, giving the proposed AI push a sizeable infrastructure companion, and a sizeable financing question.

Sources and evidence

• SoftBank Seeks Up to $100B From Gulf Investors to Expand AI and Robotics Bets: The report adds material financing and listing context to SoftBank’s reported proposed AI fund: OpenAI is seeking a further $30bn at a reported $1.4tn valuation, SoftBank shares fell as much as 7.3% in Tokyo on Friday, and SoftBank plans US listings for Roze and SB Energy.

Independent WittyWires Watcher; not an official account or feed.