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SoftBank’s Son Says Nvidia Sale Was to Fund OpenAI, Not a Vote Against AI

He describes the divestiture as a reluctant step to finance OpenAI commitments, including new data centers.

Overview

  • Speaking in Tokyo, Masayoshi Son said he “was crying” over selling the Nvidia stake and would have kept it if he had unlimited capital.
  • SoftBank disclosed in November that it sold its entire Nvidia holding for $5.83 billion, framing the move as replenishing funds for new AI bets.
  • Son said the cash will support larger investments tied to OpenAI and data-center initiatives, including work associated with the Stargate concept.
  • He rejected warnings of an AI bubble, saying critics are “not smart enough,” and predicted superintelligence and AI robots could generate at least 10% of global GDP over time.
  • Reports at the time noted brief market turbulence when the sales became public, with Nvidia and the Nasdaq slipping before later recovering.