SoftBank and OpenAI have formed a joint venture in Japan to localize and sell enterprise versions of ChatGPT technology to domestic companies. The new firm, SB OAI Japan, is owned equally by the two companies and will market what it calls “Crystal intelligence,” a packaged AI solution designed for corporate productivity and management.
SoftBank said the offering combines OpenAI’s enterprise capabilities with localized deployment and support provided by the joint venture. The conglomerate will be the first customer, deploying the AI tools throughout its business units to increase efficiency and automate workflows. The company said its workforce is already using AI extensively and has created 2.5 million custom ChatGPT instances for internal applications, ranging from operations to product development.
The deal reflects SoftBank’s strategy of doubling down on AI investment while tightening integration between its assets and technology partners. SoftBank has committed tens of billions of dollars to OpenAI and broader AI infrastructure, including data centers, as it positions itself in the core ecosystem of generative AI development.
Analyst Concerns Over AI Investment Surge
The joint venture launches at a time when investors and analysts are questioning whether the rapid deployment of capital into artificial intelligence resembles earlier speculative technology cycles. The AI sector has drawn comparisons to the dot-com era, in which transformative technology drove heavy venture investment but often lacked clear revenue models or sustainable returns.
SoftBank’s approach underscores the circular nature of many current AI commercialization efforts: companies funding AI development, forming partnerships to sell AI solutions, and then serving as primary buyers of those same services. By adopting the technology internally before reselling it to external customers, SoftBank aims to validate performance and create a demonstration pathway for broader enterprise adoption in Japan.
The companies expect to use insights from internal deployments to refine capabilities and accelerate commercialization. The initiative adds to a growing wave of enterprise AI rollouts, with corporate interest rising despite uncertainty about long-term productivity gains and return on investment.
SB OAI Japan is expected to expand its reach as more companies explore operational uses for generative AI tools. SoftBank’s internal rollout will serve as an early test of whether large-scale deployments can translate hype into measurable business transformation.
