SoftBank raises $11B for AI and semiconductor investments

ABB: ABB is a Swiss engineering group with operations in robotics, automation, and electrification technologies. SoftBank reached an agreement to purchase ABB's robotics business, aligning with long-term growth plans in robotics and autonomous systems. The transaction supports SoftBank's strategy to build out AI-adjacent hardware capabilities. Intel: Intel designs and manufactures semiconductors and related computing technologies. SoftBank made an equity investment in the company, citing expectations for expanded US chip production and supply chain resilience. The holding reflects confidence in Intel's role within the broader semiconductor ecosystem. Nvidia: Nvidia develops graphics processing units and AI computing platforms central to modern artificial intelligence workloads. SoftBank previously held and later divested stakes in the company at different points in the AI investment cycle. The firm remains a key player in the semiconductor supply chain that SoftBank is targeting. OpenAI: OpenAI develops advanced artificial intelligence models and services, including large language models. It is a key investment target for SoftBank, which has increased its stake significantly as part of broader AI platform ambitions. The company continues private fundraising while exploring future public market options. Stargate: Stargate is a joint venture between SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle focused on developing large-scale AI data centers. US President Donald Trump announced the initiative as a major collaborative project in AI infrastructure. SoftBank leads financing efforts for the venture, which includes dedicated data center development. Graphcore: Graphcore develops specialized AI accelerator chips and was positioned as a competitor in the AI hardware market. SoftBank has previously invested in the company amid broader semiconductor sector activity. The firm has navigated challenges in securing ongoing capital for expansion. Arm Holdings: Arm Holdings designs processor architectures and licenses intellectual property used in smartphones, servers, and other devices worldwide. SoftBank maintains majority ownership and has seen the value of its stake rise with semiconductor demand. The company recently introduced new AI data center chip designs as part of an evolving strategy. DigitalBridge: DigitalBridge is a digital infrastructure investment firm specializing in data centers, cell towers, fiber networks, and edge computing assets. SoftBank agreed to acquire the firm to bolster its capabilities in AI-related infrastructure development. The company participates in major data center projects including Stargate. Perplexity AI: Perplexity AI operates an AI-powered search engine and related tools. SoftBank has provided backing to the startup as part of its growing AI investment portfolio alongside other technology investors. The company continues to attract attention in the competitive AI search space. SoftBank Group: SoftBank Group is a Japanese multinational holding company that invests in technology, telecommunications, and emerging sectors globally. In the news, it is actively expanding its portfolio in artificial intelligence through large-scale funding and acquisitions across the semiconductor and infrastructure supply chain. Founder and CEO Masayoshi Son is steering the company toward leadership in AI platforms and related technologies. Ampere Computing: Ampere Computing designs data center central processing unit chips based on Arm architecture for cloud and infrastructure use. SoftBank announced its acquisition of the US-based startup to strengthen its semiconductor holdings. The company supplies chips used in enterprise cloud environments. AI Infrastructure: Technology companies are accelerating investments in data centers and supporting infrastructure to enable large-scale artificial intelligence deployments. Robotics Expansion: Robotics technologies are positioned as a strategic long-term focus area for companies seeking growth in automation and intelligent systems. US Semiconductor Strategy: Policy and corporate actions are emphasizing expanded domestic chip manufacturing and supply chain development within the United States.