SoftBank has sold its Nvidia stake for $5.8 billion to increase funding for OpenAI, signaling confidence that AI software will lead the next phase of technology growth. The move comes as global investors debate the sustainability of AI valuations.
SoftBank’s quarterly profit jumped to 2.5 trillion yen, more than double the previous year, supported by AI-related valuation gains. The company also trimmed its T-Mobile holdings to create more liquidity.
CFO Yoshimitsu Goto explained that over $30 billion in OpenAI investments required “reallocation from mature assets.” He stressed that the Nvidia sale was not tied to doubts about the chipmaker’s performance.
Following the announcement, Nvidia’s shares fell 3.5%, contributing to minor declines across tech indices. The Nasdaq Composite dropped nearly 1% amid renewed caution toward AI-heavy stocks.
While some investors see SoftBank’s move as risk reduction, others view it as preparation for the next AI wave — one centered on platforms that deliver practical intelligence rather than hardware performance.