SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son is reportedly seeking a $16 billion loan to fund the company’s growing investments in artificial intelligence (AI), according to sources cited by The Information. Additionally, the Japanese tech giant is considering another $8 billion loan in early 2026 to further bolster its AI ambitions.

SoftBank has been aggressively expanding its presence in AI. In January, Reuters reported that the conglomerate was in discussions to invest up to $25 billion in OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. This would be in addition to the $15 billion SoftBank has already allocated to Stargate, an AI-focused initiative.

Reports indicate that SoftBank is aiming for a total of $40 billion in investments across OpenAI and Stargate, with plans to raise up to $18.5 billion backed by publicly traded assets. Stargate, a major AI initiative supported by SoftBank, Oracle, and OpenAI, has set a long-term goal of investing up to $500 billion to maintain the United States’ leadership in AI innovation.

The project was announced at the White House in January, with prominent figures including former U.S. President Donald Trump, SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison in attendance.

As global competition in AI intensifies, SoftBank’s aggressive investment strategy underscores its determination to play a key role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.