オプションチェーンは、SoftBank Groupの株式オプションの主要データを様々な行使価格と満期日で表示します。トレーダーはこの情報を使用して、潜在的な取引を分析し、SoftBank Groupの市場センチメントを評価します。.

SoftBank Group (OTC:SFTBF) 株価情報, オプションチェーン

SoftBank is a Japan-based telecom and e-commerce conglomerate that has expanded mainly through acquisitions, and its key assets include a 40%-owned mobile and fixed broadband telecom operator business in Japan. It also owns 90% of semiconductor chip designer Arm Holdings following the 2023 IPO of this business, and has a vast portfolio of mainly internet- and e-commerce-focused early-stage investments. It is also general partner of the $100 billion SoftBank Vision Fund 1 and sole investor in SoftBank Vision Fund 2, both of which primarily invest in pre-IPO internet and AI companies.

artificial intelligence shutter2

News

Tech

AAPL

NVDA

SFTBF

先週の人工知能（AI）の分野では大きな動きがあった。 ソフトバンクグループ（OTC:SFTBF）が日本に巨大AIデータセンターを設立すると発表、アップル（NASDAQ:AAPL）がAI分野での苦戦を明らかにするなどで話題は豊富だった。以下は、要点の概要である。

先週のAI:ソフトバンク、ブロック、アルトマン、エヌビディア、アップル

Markets

Media

SFTBY

日本の投資巨大企業、ソフトバンク・グループ（OTC：SFTBY）（OTC：SFTBF）の株価が大幅に下落する中、同社は人工知能へのコミットを再確認しました。

日本通信大手ソフトバンク　株価下落も人工知能への投資拡大

SOFTBANK GROUP CORP by Softbank Group Corp

SoftBank Group Corp

SoftBank Group Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/softbank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eying an investment</a> of more than $1 trillion to create industrial parks for artificial intelligence across the U.S., Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-28/softbank-may-pledge-1-trillion-for-ai-effort-in-us-nikkei-says?sref=TBDibEcD" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cites</a> a Nikkei report on Friday.
Founder and CEO Masayoshi Son will likely visit the U.S. to discuss his ideas for such industrial parks.
The factories would likely use AI-equipped robots operating autonomously due to the labor crisis.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/02/43676475/softbank-backed-arm-holdings-155-post-ipo-surge-bolstered-by-ai-growth-and-smartphone-integration" rel="noreferrer noopener">Softbank-Backed Arm Holdings 155% Post-IPO Surge Bolstered by AI Growth and Smartphone Integration</a>
Son tapped OpenAI and Oracle Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) in January for a $100 billion joint venture to fund AI infrastructure in the U.S/, with plans to boost that to at least $500 billion for data centers and physical campuses.
OpenAI and Oracle <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44327422/softbank-to-build-676-million-ai-data-center-in-japan-linked-to-openai-partnership" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plan to begin</a> filling a new data center in Texas with AI chips from NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) to get the first facility for their $100 billion Stargate infrastructure venture up and running.
Reportedly, SoftBank may become <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44513286/softbank-may-want-to-outdo-microsoft-with-40-billion-investment-in-openais-latest-funding-round" rel="noreferrer noopener">OpenAI's top backer</a>, investing up to $25 billion, surpassing Microsoft's $14 billion stake. The deal could value OpenAI&nbsp;at $300 billion compared to its&nbsp;previous valuation of $157 billion in the October funding round.
SoftBank will commit an initial $7.5 billion to the company and $2.5 billion from an investor syndicate. The second tranche of $30 billion will include $22.5 billion from SoftBank and $7.5 billion from a syndicate.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/03/44498506/mobileye-lands-vw-deal-for-advanced-driving-tech-paving-way-to-higher-margins-market-share-analyst" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mobileye Lands VW Deal For Advanced Driving Tech, Paving Way To Higher Margins, Market Share: Analyst</a></li>
</ul>

Photo: Shutterstock

ORCL

SoftBank Looks At Investing $1 Trillion For US AI Push With Robot-Run Industrial Parks

Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) is exploring the development of its own <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/microsoft" rel="noreferrer noopener">high-performance artificial intelligence</a> platform model, Nikkei Asia <a target="_blank" href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Interview/Microsoft-mulls-developing-own-high-end-generative-AI-CEO-Nadella" rel="noreferrer noopener">cited</a> CEO Satya Nadella on Thursday.
Nadella shared plans to build its capability to complement what it had been doing with OpenAI. Microsoft plans to offer such technology through its business software lest it adds value to customers.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44515782/microsoft-halts-expansion-plans-yet-analysts-still-rank-it-among-top-investment-picks" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft Halts Expansion Plans, Yet Analysts Still Rank It Among Top Investment Picks</a>
While Microsoft has been leveraging the OpenAI-developed generative AI ChatGPT technology, having its proprietary platform will make it easier to provide services optimized for its business software.
As of Thursday, OpenAI&nbsp;inched <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44513286/softbank-may-want-to-outdo-microsoft-with-40-billion-investment-in-openais-latest-funding-round" rel="noreferrer noopener">closer to&nbsp;finalizing</a> a $40 billion funding round led by&nbsp;SoftBank Group Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>).
The deal could value OpenAI&nbsp;at $300 billion compared to its&nbsp;previous valuation of $157 billion in the October funding round.
SoftBank will commit an initial $7.5 billion to the company and $2.5 billion from an investor syndicate. The second tranche of $30 billion will include $22.5 billion from SoftBank and $7.5 billion from a syndicate.
Reportedly, OpenAI and Microsoft are facing tensions in their partnership due to financial strain and rising expenses at OpenAI. OpenAI requested Microsoft for additional funding and computing power, but Microsoft has been hesitant since OpenAI's leadership changes.&nbsp;
OpenAI expects to more than triple its revenue in 2025 to $12.7 billion versus $3.7 billion in 2024. Sales are expected to proliferate to $29.4 billion in 2026. Still, OpenAI doesn't expect a positive cash flow until 2029, when it projects revenue to top $125 billion.
A lot has been brewing in the AI space. The emergence of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44511372/alibaba-strikes-back-new-ai-model-takes-on-deepseek-amid-1-trillion-tech-shakeup" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chinese AI startup</a>&nbsp;DeepSeek&nbsp;and claims of affordable AI models led to&nbsp;Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) losing $600 billion in market cap in&nbsp;a single day. DeepSeek's AI model fueled a domestic price war, prompting Chinese Big Tech companies to roll out affordable AI models.
Price Action: MSFT stock is up 0.40% at $391.54 at the last check on Thursday.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44497080/qualcomm-accuses-arm-of-antitrust-violations-across-us-eu-and-korea-over-chip-access" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Qualcomm Accuses Arm Of Antitrust Violations Across US, EU, And Korea Over Chip Access</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

MSFT

Microsoft Plans Proprietary AI To Power Business Software And Reduce OpenAI Dependence: Report

ChatGPT parent OpenAI&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/openai" rel="noreferrer noopener">inched closer to</a> finalizing a $40 billion funding round as of Thursday, led by&nbsp;SoftBank Group Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) and investors&nbsp;Magnetar Capital,&nbsp;Coatue Management,&nbsp;Founders Fund, and&nbsp;Altimeter Capital Management.
Magnetar Capital could contribute up to $1 billion, Bloomberg <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-26/openai-close-to-finalizing-its-40-billion-softbank-led-funding?sref=TBDibEcD" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
The deal could value the company&nbsp;at $300 billion compared to its&nbsp;previous valuation of $157 billion in the October funding round.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44163030/chatgpt-parent-openais-specialized-ai-agents-could-cost-up-to-20-thousand-per-month-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">ChatGPT Parent OpenAI&#8217;s Specialized AI Agents Could Cost Up To $20 Thousand Per Month: report</a>
SoftBank will commit an initial $7.5 billion to the company and $2.5 billion from an investor syndicate. According to the report, the second tranche of $30 billion will include $22.5 billion from SoftBank and $7.5 billion from a syndicate.
SoftBank&nbsp;is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43327823/softbank-eyes-historic-25-billion-investment-in-openai-poised-to-dethrone-microsoft-as-chatgpt-parents-biggest-investor" rel="noreferrer noopener">reportedly negotiating an</a> investment of $15 billion—$25 billion in&nbsp;OpenAI, making it the largest investor in the&nbsp;ChatGPT&nbsp;creator. This would surpass&nbsp;Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), which has&nbsp;invested nearly $14 billion.
Reportedly, OpenAI and Microsoft negotiated to convert Microsoft&#8217;s $14 billion investment in OpenAI into equity in the AI company.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41407196/openais-for-profit-structure-adds-valuation-complexity-to-microsoft-and-other-equity-investors-repor" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reports also indicated</a> that OpenAI and Microsoft are facing tensions in their partnership due to financial strain and rising expenses at OpenAI. OpenAI asked Microsoft for additional funding and computing power, but Microsoft has been hesitant since OpenAI&#8217;s leadership changes. OpenAI&#8217;s projected computing expenses could reach $37.5 billion annually by 2029.
Separately, SoftBank has committed billions to the Stargate Project, a Texas-based joint venture with partners including OpenAI,&nbsp;Oracle Corp, and MGX.
OpenAI expects to more than triple its revenue this year to $12.7 billion. In 2024, it generated $3.7 billion in revenue. OpenAI expects sales to proliferate to $29.4 billion in 2026.
Still, OpenAI doesn&#8217;t expect to be cash-flow positive until 2029, when it projects revenue to top $125 billion as it grapples with AI development costs.
As of February, SoftBank committed&nbsp;$40 billion in OpenAI at a $260 billion valuation, CNBC <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/26/openai-expects-revenue-will-triple-to-12point7-billion-this-year-sources-say.html" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>. It expects to earmark part of the funding to OpenAI&#8217;s commitment to Stargate.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44327422/softbank-to-build-676-million-ai-data-center-in-japan-linked-to-openai-partnership" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SoftBank To Build $676 Million AI Data Center In Japan, Linked To OpenAI Partnership</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock

SoftBank May Want To Outdo Microsoft With $40 Billion Investment in OpenAI's Latest Funding Round

Perplexity is intensifying competition in the artificial intelligence search market, challenging Alphabet Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) dominance. Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas stated on X Tuesday that &#8220;Native transactions are the best way to go after the AdWords revenue.&#8221; He believes this approach, though complex to implement seamlessly, is <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/02/43488268/googles-gemini-ai-could-soon-include-adssundar-pichai-hints-at-future-monetization-beyond-subscriptions">crucial for competing with Google</a>.
What Happened: Srinivas announced Perplexity&#8217;s introduction of answer modes to improve its core search product for specific verticals like travel, shopping, places, images, videos, and jobs. He highlighted the travel vertical, where Perplexity now enables native hotel bookings, a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40972869/jeff-bezos-backed-perplexity-ai-in-discussion-with-marriott-and-nike-as-it-prepares-to-challenge-to">feature developed in collaboration</a> with TripAdvisor and Selfbook. 
Srinivas emphasized the importance of moving beyond text-based answers to structured responses for verticals with entities like images, videos, and transactional capabilities. &#8220;Going beyond answering a wall of text and being good at structured answers for verticals with entities like images, videos, cards with built-in commercial transactions is a necessary step for being a daily-usage product and taking on Google,&#8221; he said.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Native transactions are the best way to go after the AdWords revenue. It will take a while to get right and make it seamless. Google is positioned in an evil but legal way to claim maximum credit for any brand awareness that another platform (research or social) provides users. <a href="https://t.co/rUA7R3mEzw">https://t.co/rUA7R3mEzw</a>
&mdash; Aravind Srinivas (@AravSrinivas) <a href="https://twitter.com/AravSrinivas/status/1904652822156894335?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
This development comes as Alphabet reported that its AI-powered search features are generating revenue at similar rates to traditional search results. During <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43485518/google-ais-search-revenue-matches-traditional-ads-says-alphabet-but-there-is-rising-competition-from-openai-perplexity-deepseek">Alphabet's fourth-quarter 2024 earnings call</a>, Chief Business Officer Philipp Schindler stated that AI overviews are delivering revenue &#8220;at approximately the same rate&#8221; as conventional search results. 
This is significant, as search advertising remains Alphabet&#8217;s largest revenue source, generating $54 billion in the fourth quarter, a 13% year-over-year increase.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/03/44486235/chinas-milk-tea-chain-chagee-files-for-nasdaq-ipo-under-cha-taking-on-starbucks-in-growing-market">China&#8217;s Milk Tea Chain Chagee Files For Nasdaq IPO Under &#8216;CHA,&#8217; Taking On Starbucks In Growing Market</a>
Why It Matters: Alphabet faces growing competition from companies like OpenAI, Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) with its AI-powered Bing, DeepSeek, and Perplexity. 
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai hinted at potential monetization strategies for Gemini AI, including the future integration of ads. During the earnings call, Pichai acknowledged that while the company is currently focused on subscription tiers, advertising is likely to play a <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/02/43488268/googles-gemini-ai-could-soon-include-adssundar-pichai-hints-at-future-monetization-beyond-subscriptions">role in Gemini&#8217;s monetization</a>.
Perplexity, backed by Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) founder Jeff Bezos and Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), is reportedly in talks to raise up to $1 billion in a new funding round, potentially <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/03/44432846/backed-by-jeff-bezos-and-nvidia-perplexity-ai-eyes-18-billion-valuation-in-new-funding-rounddoubling-in-just-4-months">valuing the company at $18 billion</a>. 
Perplexity&#8217;s rapid growth has also drawn scrutiny. Media companies have accused the startup of scraping and republishing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41442679/rupert-murdochs-dow-jones-new-york-post-sue-jeff-bezos-backed-perplexity-for-copyright-infringement">content without attribution</a>. 
Alphabet stock outpaces Microsoft in growth and momentum, per <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GOOGL">Benzinga Edge Ranking</a>— For more insights, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/screener/top-momentum-stocks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sign up for Benzinga Edge</a>.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/03/44468143/sam-altman-founded-worldcoin-network-beats-bitcoin-ethereum-with-11-rally-amid-visa-partnership-reports" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sam Altman-Founded Worldcoin Network Beats Bitcoin, Ethereum With 11% Rally Amid Visa Partnership Reports</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Equities

AMZN

GOOG

GOOGL

Google's Ad Dominance Faces Challenge As Perplexity Introduces Answer Modes, Aravind Srinivas Advocates 'Native Transactions'

On Monday, OpenAI rolled out updates to ChatGPT's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39493705/openai-postpones-launch-of-voice-assistant-a-month-after-scarlet-johansson-blasted-the-chatgpt-paren">voice assistant</a>, positioning itself as a serious contender against rivals like Amazon.com, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) Alexa and AI startup Sesame.
What Happened: OpenAI's Advanced Voice Mode for ChatGPT is designed to make the AI assistant more personable, responsive, and less likely to interrupt users mid-sentence.
Manuka Stratta, a post-training researcher at OpenAI, explained the changes in a video posted on YouTube.&nbsp;
&#8220;Because it interrupts you less, you&#8217;ll be able to have more time to gather your thoughts and not feel like you have to fill in all the gaps and silences all the time,&#8221; she stated.
The update improves the assistant's ability to handle real-time voice interactions, addressing a common user complaint that voice AI models often jump in too soon when users pause.
See Also: <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43772135/ex-openai-chief-scientist-ilya-sutskevers-ai-startup-valued-at-30-billion-in-latest-funding-round-report">Ex-OpenAI Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever&#8217;s AI Startup Valued At $30 Billion In Latest Funding Round: Report</a>
Free users will now be able to pause mid-conversation without being interrupted while paying subscribers — including those on the Plus, Teams, Edu, Business, and Pro plans — will receive a more advanced version.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="New ChatGPT voice mode updates &#x2b07;&#xFE0F;" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mm4djPNO8os?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</figure>
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It's Important: The update comes amid growing competition in the AI voice assistant space.&nbsp;
OpenAI faces pressure from new entrants like Sesame — an Andreessen Horowitz-backed startup that went viral for its natural-sounding AI voices, Maya and Miles — and Amazon, which is preparing a large language model-powered upgrade to Alexa, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/24/openai-says-its-ai-voice-assistant-is-now-better-to-chat-with/">noted</a> TechCrunch.
Meanwhile, SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) is reportedly negotiating to spearhead a fresh <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/01/43374528/softbank-may-lead-openais-40-billion-funding-round-at-a-300-billion-valuation-despite-deepseek-disruption-report">investment round for OpenAI</a>, which could bring in $40 billion. If finalized, this funding would value the ChatGPT maker at $300 billion, marking a record-setting deal for a privately held company.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Image via Shutterstock
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43221770/apples-ipad-turns-15-today-heres-a-throwback-to-when-steve-jobs-explained-called-it-the-third-category-after-phones-and-notebooks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple's iPad Turns 15 Today: Here's A Throwback To When Steve Jobs Explained Called It The ‘Third Category' After Phones And Notebooks</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

OpenAI Says It's Making ChatGPT Voice Assistant Sound More Like A Human And It Won't Interrupt As Much

Perplexity, backed by Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) founder Jeff Bezos and Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) is reportedly in talks to raise up to $1 billion in a new funding round that would value the company at $18 billion—<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42570376/jeff-bezos-backed-perplexity-raises-500-million-tripling-its-valuation-to-9-billion-as-competition-with-google-and-openai-heats-up">double its valuation</a> just four months ago.
What Happened: Perplexity is in discussions to raise between $500 million and $1 billion, reported Reuters, citing a person familiar with the matter
This comes after the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41420230/jeff-bezos-backed-perplexity-aims-for-8b-valuation-in-new-funding-round-ai-fueled-google-challen">company was previously</a> valued at $9 billion in November 2024.&nbsp;
The massive jump reflects surging investor demand in AI search and agent-based technologies that can perform complex tasks on behalf of users.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It&#8217;s Important: Perplexity's rising valuation puts it closer to elite AI firms like OpenAI, which raised $6.6 billion in 2023 at a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41149788/openai-valuation-soars-to-157b-in-latest-funding-round">$157 billion valuation</a>.
However, Perplexity's rapid rise has drawn scrutiny. Media companies including Forbes, Wired, and News Corp have accused the startup of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40972869/jeff-bezos-backed-perplexity-ai-in-discussion-with-marriott-and-nike-as-it-prepares-to-challenge-to">scraping and republishing</a> content without attribution.
In response, the company has launched a publisher partnership program to work directly with news organizations.
Earlier this week, SoftBank Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44370200/softbank-signs-agreement-to-resell-perplexity-enterprise-pro-deploying-7000-sales-members-to-drive-adoption-in-japan">signed an agreement</a> to become an authorized reseller of Perplexity Enterprise Pro, deploying a 7,000-member sales team to boost adoption in Japan.
Meanwhile, Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas has stated that the <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/03/44429645/perplexity-ceo-says-app-will-make-apple-intelligence-work-amid-iphone-makers-ai-challenges">company could enhance</a> Apple Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) AI capabilities, amid criticism of Cupertino for its delayed AI initiatives.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40851084/mark-cuban-was-once-tending-a-bar-in-dallas-but-quickly-realized-he-wasnt-great-at-working-for-peopl?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Cuban Was Once Tending A Bar In Dallas But Quickly Realized He Wasn't Great At Working For People</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Jeff Bezos And Nvidia-Backed Perplexity AI Eyes $18 Billion Valuation In New Funding Round — Doubling In Just 4 Months

On Wednesday, SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) announced that it has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42890464/softbank-owned-arm-eyes-acquisition-of-oracle-backed-chip-designer-ampere-computing-amid-nvidias-dominance-report">acquired</a> Ampere Computing in a $6.5 billion deal, with the transaction expected to close in the second half of 2025.
What Happened: Ampere, backed by Oracle Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) and Carlyle Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CG#NASDAQ">CG</a>), designs high-performance server chips based on Arm Holdings PLC – ADR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) architecture.
Both Oracle and Carlyle will sell their stakes as part of the transaction.
Founded in 2017 by Renee James, a former Intel Corp president, Ampere will operate as an independent subsidiary of SoftBank and retain its headquarters in Santa Clara, California.
The company currently employs around 1,000 semiconductor engineers.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42888800/goldman-sachs-flags-market-correction-risk-as-inflation-trump-policies-stir-uncertainty" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goldman Sachs Flags Market Correction Risk As Inflation, Trump Policies Stir Uncertainty</a>
Why It's Important: The acquisition signals SoftBank's aggressive pivot toward AI infrastructure, <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/media/25/01/43374528/softbank-may-lead-openais-40-billion-funding-round-at-a-300-billion-valuation-despite-deepseek-disruption-report">following its partnership</a> with OpenAI and involvement in the Donald Trump-backed $500 billion Stargate initiative.
The move also bolsters SoftBank's Arm ecosystem, following its $32 billion acquisition of Arm in 2016 and Arm's 2023 IPO.
SoftBank also plans to build a <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44327422/softbank-to-build-676-million-ai-data-center-in-japan-linked-to-openai-partnership">$676 million AI data center</a> in Japan. This facility is expected to support large-scale AI projects, further enhancing SoftBank&#8217;s AI ecosystem.
Earlier this week, the company also unveiled a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44398359/softbank-unveils-ai-model-to-streamline-telecom-operations">new AI model</a> designed to optimize telecom operations.
Photo by NP27 on Shutterstock.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42890014/jim-cramer-warns-on-quantum-stories-as-stocks-plunge-we-need-you-out-before-the-froth-goes-away" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jim Cramer Warns On ‘Quantum Stories' As Stocks Plunge: ‘We Need You Out Before The Froth Goes Away'</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Masayoshi Son's SoftBank Buys Oracle-Backed Ampere For $6.5 Billion To Boost US AI Push

SoftBank Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) has introduced a new<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence"> generative AI model</a> called the Large Telecom Model.
The Japanese investment firm designed LTM to improve the design, management, and functioning of cellular networks.
Built on extensive datasets from SoftBank's network and years of operational expertise, the <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250319899009/en/SoftBank-Corp.-Develops-a-Foundational-Large-Telecom-Model-LTM">LTM is set to optimize </a>telecom operations. The company intends to continue its research and development to incorporate the model into its own operations.
These AI models can accurately predict configurations for real base stations with more than 90% accuracy.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44372913/whats-going-on-with-nio-stock-today">NIO And CATL To Build China's Largest Battery Swapping</a>
This process reduces the time needed to make adjustments from days to minutes, while also minimizing human error. Furthermore, the LTM serves as the core of SoftBank's "AI for RAN" initiative, improving Radio Access Network (RAN) performance.
SoftBank&#8217;s partnership with Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) was essential in enhancing the LTM&#8217;s performance. By utilizing Nvidia&#8217;s NIM for fine-tuning, SoftBank achieved substantial improvements in key performance metrics. That includes Time to First Token (TTFT) and Tokens Per Second (TPS).
The LTM incorporates SoftBank&#8217;s extensive mobile network data, providing valuable insights and expert knowledge to solve network issues effectively.
Through fine-tuning, LTM allows the development of AI models designed for specific use cases in mobile network operations, such as optimizing new base station deployments and adjusting configurations for special events.
SoftBank&#8217;s use of Nvidia&#8217;s DGX SuperPOD for distributed training and its continued collaboration on AI inference microservices will enhance LTM&#8217;s capabilities and its potential deployment across networks.
SoftBank aims to leverage the LTM to improve operational efficiency, deliver new services, and enhance mobile network experiences. 
It is to be noted that the Trump Administration has revealed a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43139410/softbanks-role-in-500-billion-stargate-ai-venture-seen-as-major-growth-driver-analyst-says">new AI infrastructure initiative </a>in the U.S. called &#8220;Stargate,&#8221; which includes OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), and Abu Dhabi's MGX. The venture plans to invest $100 billion initially, with the potential to reach up to $500 billion over the next four years.
Price Action: SFTBF shares closed at $51.95 on Tuesday.
Read Next: 
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/03/44359600/hyperfine-nvidia-partner-to-make-brain-mris-more-affordable">Hyperfine, Nvidia Partner To Make Brain MRIs More Affordable</a>
Image: Shutterstock

General

SoftBank Unveils AI Model To Streamline Telecom Operations

The week was rife with significant developments in the tech world, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI). From SoftBank Group&#8217;s (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) announcement of a massive AI data center in Japan to Apple Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) struggle in the AI race, the stories were as diverse as they were impactful. Here&#8217;s a quick round-up of the top stories.
SoftBank&#8217;s $676 Million AI Data Center
On Friday,&nbsp;SoftBank Group revealed plans to acquire assets from Sharp Corp to build a large-scale AI data center. The investment firm will spend approximately $676 million on the project, which aligns with its strategic partnership with OpenAI. The AI data center, set to begin operations in 2026, will be built on a vast area of land and buildings at the Sharp Sakai Factory.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44327422/softbank-to-build-676-million-ai-data-center-in-japan-linked-to-openai-partnership">Read the full article here.</a>
Block&#8217;s AI Performance Boost with Nvidia
Block Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XYZ#NYSE">XYZ</a>), led by CEO Jack Dorsey, became the first U.S. company to deploy Nvidia Corp.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) new AI clusters. Dorsey expects the implementation to be 30 times more powerful than current ones, thanks to Nvidia's DGX SuperPOD with GB200 systems.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44299872/jack-dorseys-block-first-us-company-to-deploy-nvidias-ai-cluster-predicts-30x-performance-boost">Read the full article here.</a>
Sam Altman&#8217;s AI Warning
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, speaking at a private Morgan Stanley event, warned that AI will be deflationary. He also highlighted that the biggest constraint for OpenAI isn&#8217;t data or demand, but GPUs.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44297444/sam-altman-warns-ai-will-be-deflationary-but-says-openais-biggest-constraint-isnt-data-or-demand-its-gpus">Read the full article here.</a>
Nvidia&#8217;s Valuation Drop
Despite impressive Q4 earnings,&nbsp;Nvidia&#8217;s stock has seen a significant drop in 2025. The chipmaker&#8217;s valuation is now 41% cheaper compared to November 2022, when ChatGPT was launched, and 85% cheaper from its record high valuations in July 2023.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44298732/nvidia-valuation-drops-after-2025-rout-ai-chipmakers-price-declines-41-from-its-peak-when-chatgpt-was-launched">Read the full article here.</a>
Apple&#8217;s AI Race Fumble
Apple&#8217;s shares are under significant selling pressure, with the company struggling in the AI race. The stock is down 10.85% year-to-date, 8.22% in the past month, and 1.56% on Friday alone.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/03/44284821/apple-stock-takes-a-bite-out-of-investors-as-siri-fumbles-ai-race">Read the full article here.</a>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44345022/ray-dalio-has-a-chilling-warning-for-president-trump-debt-crisis-is-imminent-and-an-issue-of-paramount-importance">Ray Dalio Has A Chilling Warning For President Trump: Debt Crisis Is Imminent, And An Issue Of &#8216;Paramount Importance&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/Rounak-Jain" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rounak Jain</a>

Softbank's AI Data Center, Block's AI Boost, Altman's Warning, Nvidia's Valuation Drop, And Apple's Fumble: This Week In Artificial Intelligence

On Friday, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/softbank">Japanese investment firm</a> SoftBank Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) announced an agreement with Sharp Corp to purchase land, buildings, and assets tied to Sharp&#8217;s liquid crystal panel factory in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture. The acquisition, valued at approximately 100 billion yen ($676 million), is intended to support the development of a large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) data center.
SoftBank <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/14/softbank-buys-676m-old-sharp-plant-for-its-openai-collab-in-japan/?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANguFtyR8kxkqv03E8_wT4_ZWObSEOstiC8tEKfQj0SC9qJz3lLZk7RTpdS-MYa287FxHFMsK6NSQre0iWXT5RDlq0KQabodh60SbPXS4Y_NRG9wngGuS-DqLDj0l0pOhFQD9c_nCZ5DZ48b4MRlZADtrNntygLJIv3o0TOGKybj">confirmed </a>to TechCrunch that the purchase aligns with its strategic partnership with OpenAI.
SoftBank will use approximately 450,000 square meters of land and about 840,000 square meters of buildings at the Sharp Sakai Factory to build an AI data center with a 150-megawatt power capacity, aiming to begin operations in 2026, TechCruch reports.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44163030/chatgpt-parent-openais-specialized-ai-agents-could-cost-up-to-20-thousand-per-month-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">ChatGPT Parent OpenAI&#8217;s Specialized AI Agents Could Cost Up To $20 Thousand Per Month: report</a>
The company plans to expand the power receiving capacity to over 250 megawatts.
SoftBank will use this AI data center to develop generative AI and other AI-related businesses. It will also provide it to universities, research institutes, and companies to meet various external needs.
SoftBank is reportedly negotiating a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43327823/softbank-eyes-historic-25-billion-investment-in-openai-poised-to-dethrone-microsoft-as-chatgpt-parents-biggest-investor" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">potential investment of $15 billion</a> to $25 billion in OpenAI to become the largest investor in the ChatGPT creator, surpassing Microsoft Corp&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) $14 billion.
In January 2025, President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44188361/nvidia-powers-openai-and-oracles-100-billion-stargate-first-ai-data-center-set-to-launch-in-texas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">announced the $500 billion</a> OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) initiative when OpenAI said Stargate would expand to as many as 10 sites. OpenAI and Oracle plan to begin filling a new data center in Texas with AI chips from Nvidia Corp to get the first facility for their $100 billion Stargate infrastructure venture up and running. 
OpenAI collaborated with Oracle on the design and delivery of the Abilene data center, and Oracle is in charge of the supercomputer being built there.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43458397/sam-altman-in-korea-openai-seeks-ai-deals-with-samsung-sk-hynix-and-softbank-amid-global-ai-boom" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sam Altman in Korea: OpenAI Seeks AI Deals With Samsung, SK Hynix, and SoftBank Amid Global AI Boom</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

SoftBank To Build $676 Million AI Data Center In Japan, Linked To OpenAI Partnership

Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) continues to tap the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence" rel="noreferrer noopener">artificial intelligence frenzy</a>, adding Stargate as its next customer.
OpenAI&nbsp;and&nbsp;Oracle Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>)&nbsp;plan to begin filling a new data center in Texas with thousands of powerful AI chips from&nbsp;Nvidia to get the first facility for their $100 billion Stargate infrastructure venture up and running.
Bloomberg <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-06/openai-oracle-eye-nvidia-chips-worth-billions-for-stargate-site?srnd=phx-technology&amp;sref=TBDibEcD" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, that the site in Abilene will likely accommodate 64,000 of Nvidia&#8217;s GB200 semiconductors by the end of 2026.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42397333/google-quantum-ais-new-willow-chip-can-do-in-minutes-that-supercomputers-would-take-10-septillion-years" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google Quantum AI&#8217;s New Willow Chip Can Do in Minutes That Supercomputers Would Take 10 Septillion Years</a>
OpenAI and Oracle plan to add the Nvidia chips to several data center halls in phases, with an initial rollout by 2025 summer, according to the report. The total planned shipments represent computing power for a single customer&#8217;s initial phases of one data center.
In January 2025, President Donald Trump announced <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43139410/softbanks-role-in-500-billion-stargate-ai-venture-seen-as-major-growth-driver-analyst-says" rel="noreferrer noopener">the $500 billion</a> OpenAI,&nbsp;SoftBank Group Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>), and Oracle initiative when OpenAI said Stargate will expand to as many as ten sites.
An OpenAI spokesperson told Bloomberg that it collaborated with Oracle on the design and delivery of the Abilene data center and that Oracle is in charge of the supercomputer being built there.
In January, Nvidia launched Digits, a desktop-sized <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42838231/jensen-huang-unveils-3000-personal-ai-supercomputer-the-size-of-a-small-book-it-runs-the-entire-nvidia-ai-stack" rel="noreferrer noopener">personal AI supercomputer</a> available in May 2025.
Reportedly, Amazon.Com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) is also building <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42317004/amazon-launches-ai-war-againt-nvidia-by-building-ai-supercomputers-and-servers-at-cheaper-costs" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI&nbsp;supercomputers in</a> collaboration with Anthropic, featuring thousands of Amazon&#8217;s latest AI training chip, Trainium 2.
Price Action: NVDA stock is up 0.33% at $110.93 premarket at last check Friday.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44165398/apples-foldable-ai-iphone-could-cost-over-2000-20-million-units-shipped-by-2027-analyst" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple&#8217;s Foldable AI iPhone Could Cost Over $2,000, 20 Million Units Shipped By 2027: Analyst</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy of Nvidia

Nvidia Powers OpenAI And Oracle's $100 Billion Stargate Infrastructure, First AI Data Center Set To Launch in Texas

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/openai" rel="noreferrer noopener">ChatGPT parent</a> OpenAI could charge up to $20,000 monthly for specialized AI &#8220;agents,&#8221;&nbsp;the Information <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/openai-plots-charging-20-000-a-month-for-phd-level-agents" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
The Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) backed AI startup plans to launch several &#8220;agent&#8221; products tailored for different applications, including sorting and ranking sales leads and software engineering.
OpenAI plans to charge $2,000 monthly for a &#8220;high-income knowledge worker&#8221; agent and $10,000 monthly for a software developer agent.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44140452/gm-stellantis-supplier-samsung-sdi-weighs-new-us-battery-plant-amid-trumps-ev-policy-shift" rel="noreferrer noopener">GM, Stellantis Supplier Samsung SDI Weighs New US Battery Plant Amid Trump&#8217;s EV Policy Shift</a>
OpenAI&#8217;s $20,000-per-month AI agent will likely support &#8220;PhD-level research.&#8221; Reportedly, OpenAI investor SoftBank (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) committed to spending $3 billion on OpenAI&#8217;s agent products in 2025.
OpenAI and Microsoft <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41407196/openais-for-profit-structure-adds-valuation-complexity-to-microsoft-and-other-equity-investors-repor" rel="noreferrer noopener">reportedly negotiated how</a> to convert Microsoft&#8217;s $14 billion investment into equity amid OpenAI&#8217;s $157 billion valuation.
Both companies enlisted financial advisors to navigate the high-stakes discussions as OpenAI transitions to a for-profit model.
OpenAI&#8217;s projected computing expenses could reach $37.5 billion annually by 2029. OpenAI, whose&nbsp;monthly revenue hit&nbsp;$300 million in August, proposed increasing the chatbot&#8217;s price by 10% in 2024 and doubling it to $44 over the next five years.
Meanwhile, in China, Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) recently <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/44040003/alibaba-expands-ai-workforce-while-deepseek-slashes-model-prices-in-market-battle" rel="noreferrer noopener">introduced 3,000 internships</a>, half of which are in AI. It committed $52.2 billion in AI and cloud investment.
Alibaba&#8217;s move coincided with Chinese AI startup&nbsp;DeepSeek&#8217;s AI model price war, offering discounted off-peak pricing for developers. Chinese tech companies like&nbsp;Alibaba and its rivals were already&nbsp;engaged in a price war&nbsp;to win market share.&nbsp;
Price Action: MSFT stock is down 1.26% at $395.97 premarket at the last check on Thursday.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44136859/asml-faces-uncertainty-as-us-sanctions-on-china-cut-demand-stock-down-24-in-12-months" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chip Equipment Maker ASML Faces Uncertainty As US Sanctions On China Impact Demand</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock

BABA

ChatGPT Parent OpenAI's Specialized AI Agents Could Cost Up To $20 Thousand Per Month: report

On Wednesday, the U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority ruled that Microsoft Corporation's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) $13 billion investment in OpenAI does not warrant a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/12/36151493/after-securing-a-board-seat-microsofts-openai-partnership-comes-under-the-uk-antitrust-authoritys-sc">formal merger investigation</a>.
What Happened: The CMA announced that Microsoft's investment in OpenAI does not constitute a merger, as there was no "change of control" giving Microsoft "de facto control" over the AI startup, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/8f7fcaaf-2ae0-4c2f-a016-6f51d2f83cba">reported</a> the Financial Times.
This decision follows months of scrutiny into whether Microsoft's stake in OpenAI could stifle competition in the AI market.
See Also: <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/03/44087329/microsoft-unveils-ai-powered-dragon-copilot-to-ease-clinician-workloads">Microsoft Unveils AI-Powered Dragon Copilot To Ease Clinician Workloads</a>
The regulator pointed to "recent developments" that have reduced OpenAI's dependence on Microsoft, including its <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43400191/openais-100-billion-texas-stargate-data-center-will-reportedly-employ-just-57-people-with-57600-annual-salaries">newly formed $100 billion</a> AI infrastructure partnership with SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>).
The CMA's executive director for mergers, Joel Bamford, cautioned that this decision "should not be read as the partnership being given a clean bill of health on potential competition concerns."
Why It Matters: The decision marks a win for Microsoft, allowing it to continue its lucrative partnership with OpenAI without immediate regulatory hurdles.
Meanwhile, it has also been reported that SoftBank is currently in discussions to spearhead a new funding round for OpenAI, aiming to raise $40 billion.
This investment could push the ChatGPT creator's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/01/43374528/softbank-may-lead-openais-40-billion-funding-round-at-a-300-billion-valuation-despite-deepseek-disruption-report">valuation to $300 billion</a>, marking a record-breaking funding round for a private company.
Price Action: Microsoft&#8217;s stock closed Wednesday at $401.02, rising 3.19%. However, it dipped 0.25% in after-hours trading. Year-to-date, the stock is down 4.20%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/03/44157128/intel-beats-investor-lawsuit-after-32-billion-stock-plunge-judge-rules-foundry-losses-werent-misleading">Intel Beats Investor Lawsuit After $32 Billion Stock Plunge—Judge Rules Foundry Losses Weren&#8217;t Misleading</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Microsoft Dodges UK Competition Crackdown Over OpenAI Deal, Watchdog Director Says Partnership Doesn't Get 'A Clean Bill Of Health'

President Donald Trump delivered a wide-ranging congressional address that touched on critical economic issues, with particular emphasis on electric vehicles, energy production, and government efficiency.
On electric vehicles, Trump took a direct stance: &#8220;We ended the last administration&#8217;s insane electric vehicle mandate, saving our autoworkers and companies from economic destruction.&#8221; This declaration signals a significant shift in automotive policy, promising relief to the auto industry.
The centerpiece of his efficiency drive is the new Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk. Trump personally highlighted Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Musk&#8217;s role, stating, &#8220;He&#8217;s working very hard. He didn&#8217;t need this.&#8221; The department aims to combat what Trump described as massive government waste, with the president claiming they&#8217;ve &#8220;found hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud&#8221; and are working to eliminate inefficiencies.
Addressing inflation, Trump specifically called out food prices, noting the impact on everyday Americans: &#8220;[Former President] Joe Biden let the price of eggs get out of control and he&#8217;s now fighting to bring prices back down.&#8221; He linked this to his broader economic strategy of reducing government spending and waste.
Energy policy took center stage with Trump&#8217;s emphatic &#8220;drill baby drill&#8221; approach. He declared, &#8220;We have more liquid gold under our feet than any nation on earth&#8230; I fully authorize the most talented team ever assembled to go and get it.&#8221; This includes plans for a &#8220;gigantic natural gas pipeline in Alaska&#8221; and expanding critical mineral production.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44068159/nba-legend-shaq-says-his-net-worth-quadrupled-once-he-took-note-from-jeff-bezos-and-started-investing-in-things-that-change-peoples-lives" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA Legend Shaq Says His Net Worth ‘Quadrupled' Once He Took Note From Jeff Bezos And Started Investing In Things That ‘Change People's Lives'</a>
On taxation, Trump proposed sweeping cuts and exemptions: &#8220;I&#8217;m calling for no tax on tips, no tax on overtime and no tax on social security benefits.&#8221; He also aims to make car loan interest tax-deductible for American-made vehicles, promising to &#8220;absolutely boom&#8221; the auto industry.
Trump highlighted major corporate investments, including, Oracle Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>), and SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>).
On trade, Trump announced reciprocal tariffs beginning Apr. 2, declaring, &#8220;Whatever they charge us, we will charge them back.&#8221; He promised this would bring &#8220;trillions and trillions of dollars&#8221; and create unprecedented job opportunities.
Interest rates and the federal budget were also key themes. Trump pledged &#8220;a beautiful drop&#8221; in interest rates and committed to balancing the federal budget, something &#8220;not been done in 24 years.&#8221; He introduced a &#8220;Gold Card&#8221; immigration program designed to generate revenue and reduce national debt.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44065932/mark-cuban-was-asked-how-hed-invest-100k-his-answer-buy-bulk-toothpaste-and-soup-for-the-best-guaranteed-return-on-investment" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Cuban Was Asked How He'd Invest $100K — His Answer? Buy Bulk Toothpaste And Soup For The ‘Best Guaranteed Return On Investment'</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

TSLA

Trump's Congressional Address: Taps Elon Musk For Government Overhaul, Revives 'Drill Baby Drill' For Energy Boom

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) weighed investing $100 billion in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tsmc" rel="noreferrer noopener">chip manufacturing plants</a> in the U.S. over the next four years.
The Wall Street Journal <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/trump-chip-maker-tsmc-expected-to-announce-100-billion-investment-in-u-s-02a44399" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, that President Trump could make an announcement soon.
The Taiwanese contract chipmaker looks to build advanced chip-making facilities to help the U.S. consolidate its semiconductor position.&nbsp;
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/44040003/alibaba-expands-ai-workforce-while-deepseek-slashes-model-prices-in-market-battle" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alibaba Expands AI Intern Workforce While DeepSeek Slashes Model Prices in Market Battle</a>
The chipmaker invested over $65 billion in its Arizona fabs to develop advanced chips.
The company only builds its most advanced chip-making facilities on its home soil, Taiwan. Its chips are critical for powering everything from the latest artificial intelligence systems to smartphones.&nbsp;
Since the Biden administration, the U.S. has expressed concerns about Taiwan Semiconductor's near-monopoly on advanced chip manufacturing. It has been <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/02/44052145/taiwan-semi-faces-geopolitical-strain-due-to-us-scrutiny-on-huaweis-chip-access" rel="noreferrer noopener">urging the company</a> to migrate more of its advanced production, including advanced chip packaging facilities, to the U.S.
Taiwan Semiconductor spent over $17 billion on advanced chips and packaging.
In 2025, the Trump administration announced a $500 billion <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43139410/softbanks-role-in-500-billion-stargate-ai-venture-seen-as-major-growth-driver-analyst-says" rel="noreferrer noopener">"Stargate" AI venture</a> with OpenAI, SoftBank Corp (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>), Oracle Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), and MGX, starting with 10 Texas data centers.
Last week, U.S. chipmaker Intel Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTC#NASDAQ">NTC</a>) launched new&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/02/44052935/intel-delays-28-billion-ohio-chip-plant-again-pushing-opening-to-2030-amid-financial-struggles" rel="noreferrer noopener">Intel Xeon 6 processors</a> to meet the demands of AI and high-performing&nbsp;and efficient computing.
Intel's new&nbsp;ASML Holding (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>)&nbsp;advanced extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines&nbsp;are in production. Intel plans to use ASML's high NA machines for 18A chip technology to regain market share from Taiwan Semiconductor.
Price Action: TSM stock is down 1.64% to $177.56 at the last check on Monday.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/emerging-markets/25/02/44040537/tiktok-invests-8-8-billion-in-thailand-data-centers-bypassing-us-china-tech-tensions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TikTok Invests $8.8 Billion in Thailand Data Centers, Bypassing US-China Tech Tensions</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by Sundry Photography on Shutterstock

Government

Regulations

ASML

Taiwan Semiconductor Weighs $100 Billion US Investment As Chip War Heats Up

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk criticized SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) CEO Masayoshi Son as &#8220;already overleveraged&#8221; on Sunday, reigniting concerns about funding for the ambitious Stargate AI project.
What Happened: Musk&#8217;s comments on X came in response to reports that SoftBank is in talks to secure a $16 billion loan for AI investments, with an additional $8 billion potentially being sought in early 2026, according to The Information.
The exchange highlights ongoing tensions surrounding Project Stargate, a $500 billion joint venture between OpenAI, Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>), and SoftBank announced by President Donald Trump in January. The initiative aims to build massive AI infrastructure across the United States to maintain technological leadership over China.
Musk has consistently questioned the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/43121798/elon-musk-says-project-stargate-doesnt-actually-have-the-money-after-trump-announces-500-billion-ai-investment-led-by-softbank-oracle-and-openai">project&#8217;s financial backing</a>. In January, he claimed SoftBank had &#8220;well under $10B secured,&#8221; adding: &#8220;They don&#8217;t actually have the money. I have that on good authority.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Masa is already overleveraged <a href="https://t.co/h4YZqmY4Kf">https://t.co/h4YZqmY4Kf</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1896232941015171461?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44065932/mark-cuban-was-asked-how-hed-invest-100k-his-answer-buy-bulk-toothpaste-and-soup-for-the-best-guaranteed-return-on-investment">Mark Cuban Was Asked How He&#8217;d Invest $100K — His Answer? Buy Bulk Toothpaste And Soup For The &#8216;Best Guaranteed Return On Investment&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The ambitious project has significant market implications. Technology partners including Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), and ARM Holdings plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) saw stock gains following the initial announcement.
Project Stargate plans immediate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43111153/nvidia-and-ai-stock-rises-as-trump-announces-500-billion-stargate-ai-infrastructure-venture">deployment of $100 billion</a>, beginning with a 500,000-square-foot data center in Abilene, Texas, with nine additional facilities planned and potential expansion to 20 locations.
SoftBank&#8217;s Son will serve as chairman of the initiative, which OpenAI says will &#8220;secure American leadership in AI&#8221; while creating &#8220;hundreds of thousands of American jobs.&#8221;
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44065682/charlie-munger-shared-advice-for-the-young-but-it-applies-to-all-if-youve-got-anything-you-really-want-to-do-dont-wait-until-youre-93">Charlie Munger Shared Advice For The Young, But It Applies To All: &#8216;If You&#8217;ve Got Anything You Really Want to Do, Don&#8217;t Wait Until You&#8217;re 93&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Elon Musk Calls SoftBank's Masayoshi Son 'Overleveraged' As $16 Billion AI Loan Fuels Debate About Viability Of OpenAI's Stargate Project

Arm Holdings Plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) is looking to put down roots in Malaysia, signaling a major shift in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/semiconductors">global semiconductor landscape</a>. 
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim confirmed the news, calling it a development that could propel Malaysia into the high-tech big leagues, <a href="https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2025/02/28/uks-arm-holdings-keen-to-set-up-base-in-malaysia-says-pm/">reported</a> Free Malaysia Today. But, with great investment comes great responsibility. Can Malaysia build the skilled workforce needed to capitalize on this opportunity?
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Power Move With SoftBank In Tow</h2>
ARM's decision comes with the backing of SoftBank Group Corp (OTCPK:SFTBF), its parent company and CEO Masayoshi Son.
The move underscores Malaysia's rising appeal as a semiconductor hub, thanks to its political stability and investor-friendly policies. But this isn't just a ribbon-cutting ceremony, it's a high-stakes bet on the country's ability to deliver talent and infrastructure.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/02/43719655/arm-takes-on-its-own-customers-poaches-talent-competes-with-qualcomm-and-nvidia-for-ai-and-data-center-chip-deals-report">Arm Takes On Its Own Customers — Poaches Talent, Competes With Qualcomm And Nvidia For AI And Data Center Chip Deals: Report</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Challenge: Bridging The Talent Gap</h2>
While ARM's arrival is a win for Malaysia, the challenge lies in preparing a workforce capable of driving innovation in chip design and manufacturing. 
Anwar didn't mince words—Malaysia must ramp up efforts to train young professionals or risk missing out on the full economic benefits of this partnership, <a href="https://smartphonemagazine.nl/en/2025/02/28/tech-giant-arm-holdings-set-to-bring-semiconductor-surge-to-malaysia/">reported</a> Smartphone Magazine.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Bigger Picture</h2>
ARM's expansion aligns with the broader geopolitical shift in semiconductor manufacturing. With the U.S.-China tech rivalry pushing companies to diversify supply chains, Malaysia finds itself in a sweet spot. If it plays its cards right, this deal could make it a key player in the global chip race.
For now, all eyes are on Malaysia. 
The question is: can Malaysia turn this golden opportunity into long-term success, or will it fumble at the starting line?
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43906562/google-microsoft-and-meta-linked-to-54-billion-in-health-costs-as-ai-data-centers-fuel-pollution-crisis-in-the-us-report">Google, Microsoft, And Meta Linked To $5.4 Billion In Health Costs As AI Data Centers Fuel Pollution Crisis In The US: Report</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Asia

Long Ideas

Trading Ideas

ARM's Big Bet On Malaysia: Can The Nation Meet The Challenge?

A new study from UC Riverside and Caltech has found that pollution from Big Tech's data centers has cost the U.S. public health system an estimated $5.4 billion over the past five years. Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) Google, Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), and Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) are among the biggest contributors.
What Happened: Data centers, which power artificial intelligence models and cloud computing, consume <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/partner/commodities/24/05/38814247/ai-data-center-power-requirements-increasing-demand-for-critical-materials-like-copper-and-ur">vast amounts of electricity</a>, much of it sourced from fossil fuels.
Air pollution linked to these energy demands has been tied to increased cases of cancer, asthma, and other illnesses, researchers found, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/d595d5f6-79d1-47eb-b690-8597f09b39e7">reported</a> the Financial Times, citing the study.
In 2023 alone, public health costs from data center-related pollution were estimated at $1.5 billion, up 20% from the previous year.
Over the five years from 2019 to 2023, Google was responsible for the highest estimated health costs at $2.6 billion, followed by Microsoft at $1.6 billion and Meta at $1.2 billion.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43221770/apples-ipad-turns-15-today-heres-a-throwback-to-when-steve-jobs-explained-called-it-the-third-category-after-phones-and-notebooks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple&#8217;s iPad Turns 15 Today: Here&#8217;s A Throwback To When Steve Jobs Explained Called It The ‘Third Category&#8217; After Phones And Notebooks</a>
In response to the report, Google, Microsoft, and Meta pushed back on the findings, arguing that the research overestimated their pollution levels.&nbsp;
Google told the publication that the estimates "promote an inaccurate emissions estimate generated under false pretenses." Microsoft pointed to its sustainability efforts, while Meta reiterated its commitment to "net zero greenhouse gas emissions."
Google, Microsoft, and Meta did not immediately&nbsp;<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga's</a> request for comments.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: The rapid expansion of AI infrastructure, fueled by Big Tech's multi-billion-dollar investments, is expected to further increase data center pollution, the report noted.
U.S. data centers accounted for 4% of the nation's electricity consumption in 2023, a figure that could rise to 12% by 2028, according to a Department of Energy-backed Berkeley Lab report.
"Unlike carbon emissions, the health impacts caused by a data center in one region cannot be offset by cleaner air elsewhere," said Shaolei Ren, associate professor at UC Riverside, underscoring the local impact of air pollution.
Ren suggested that tech companies could reduce the rising public health risk by building data centers in less populated areas. This would help minimize their impact.
Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), and Meta <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/02/43564458/big-techs-2025-ai-bill-is-320-billion-and-counting-can-investors-stomach-it">expect to spend over $320 billion</a> on AI this year, up from $151 billion in 2023 and $246 billion in 2024. Last month, OpenAI and SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) also announced &#8220;Stargate,&#8221; a $500 billion AI infrastructure project in the U.S.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43772135/ex-openai-chief-scientist-ilya-sutskevers-ai-startup-valued-at-30-billion-in-latest-funding-round-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ex-OpenAI Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever&#8217;s AI Startup Valued At $30 Billion In Latest Funding Round: Report</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Google, Microsoft, And Meta Linked To $5.4 Billion In Health Costs As AI Data Centers Fuel Pollution Crisis In The US: Report

ByteDance Ltd., the owner of TikTok, has reportedly seen its valuation climb past $400 billion, driven by major investors like SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>), Fidelity, and T. Rowe Price (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TROW#NASDAQ">TROW</a>).
What Happened: At least three major investors have marked up ByteDance's valuation, with Fidelity estimating it at more than $410 billion and T. Rowe Price at over $450 billion.
SoftBank's Vision Fund has also revised its valuation to exceed $400 billion, factoring in the growth potential of ByteDance's AI business, Doubao, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-21/softbank-fidelity-t-rowe-value-bytedance-at-above-400-billion?srnd=phx-technology">reported</a> Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43876492/apples-visual-intelligence-may-come-to-iphone-15-pro-heres-how-it-can-transform-your-camera-with-ai-powered-real-time-search">Apple&#8217;s Visual Intelligence May Come To iPhone 15 Pro: Here&#8217;s How It Can Transform Your Camera With AI-Powered Real-Time Search</a>
SoftBank's valuation model assigns zero value to <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43724471/tiktok-returns-to-apple-and-google-app-stores-after-a-month-long-hiatus">TikTok's U.S. operations</a>, reflecting ongoing regulatory threats. If TikTok avoids a shutdown in the U.S., ByteDance's valuation could rise even further, the report noted, citing a source.
The increase comes amid a broader rally in Chinese tech stocks, driven by optimism <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43878215/chinas-deepseek-to-open-source-key-code-repositories-in-a-bid-for-full-transparency">around AI startup</a> DeepSeek and a more favorable regulatory environment in China.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: ByteDance's valuation surge highlights the growing importance of AI in the global tech sector, even as geopolitical tensions cloud its U.S. business prospects.
Investors are betting on ByteDance's AI leadership in China, where Doubao has 75 million active users.
In October 2023, ByteDance valued <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/42027476/bytedance-valuation-soars-to-300b-despite-threat-of-us-tiktok-ban">itself at around $225 billion</a>. This rose to $268 billion after a buyback in December 2023.
ByteDance investors see Donald Trump's return to the White House as a good sign for TikTok in the U.S. Although Trump once backed a ban on the app, he changed his position during his campaign.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43840286/apples-iphone-16e-to-drive-revenue-growth-for-tim-cooks-company-says-top-analyst" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple's iPhone 16e To Drive Revenue Growth For Tim Cook's Company, Says Top Analyst</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

TROW

ByteDance's AI Business Helps Boost Valuation Past $400 Billion Even As US TikTok Business Risks Loom

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/chip-stocks">British chip designer</a> Arm Holdings Plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) is reportedly entering the chip sales market, directly competing with its own clients, including Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) and Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), for AI and data center chip deals.
What Happened: Arm, traditionally known for licensing its intellectual property to tech giants like Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Nvidia, is now looking to diversify its revenue streams by potentially selling its own chips.
Arm has been actively hiring executives from its licensees to support this new venture, reported Reuters, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
This strategic pivot could disrupt the industry, as Arm has traditionally been viewed as a neutral entity. The company&#8217;s legal battle with Qualcomm over licensing rates, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42646386/qualcomm-scores-big-in-arm-lawsuit-will-bearish-trends-back-down">which Arm lost</a>, underscores the growing tensions, the report noted.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42966025/softbank-backed-arm-plans-major-price-hike-apple-qualcomm-supplier-explores-chip-development">SoftBank-Backed Arm Plans Major Price Hike: Apple, Qualcomm Supplier Explores Chip Development</a>
Arm could also be positioning itself as a competitor to Nvidia, according to JP Morgan analyst Harlan Sur. In a research note published Thursday, Sur mentioned that Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) has secured a contract with Arm and its parent company SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (SFTBY).
The deal involves developing a specialized AI chip designed to power SoftBank's data centers in Japan, potentially generating $30 billion in revenue.
Why It Matters: Arm is reportedly in competition with Qualcomm to supply data center CPUs to Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>) (META.O). Earlier in the day it was reported that Arm has already <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/02/43710498/arm-stock-rises-as-meta-becomes-first-customer-for-its-new-in-house-chip">secured a portion of this business</a>, although discussions between Meta and Qualcomm are still ongoing.
Arm&#8217;s stock has experienced a remarkable 155% surge since its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/02/43676475/softbank-backed-arm-holdings-155-post-ipo-surge-bolstered-by-ai-growth-and-smartphone-integration">September 2023 IPO</a>, driven by AI growth and smartphone integration.
Earlier this month, Arm also confirmed its central role in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43521100/arm-confirms-central-role-in-100-billion-stargate-ai-infrastructure-project-with-openai-oracle">$100 billion Stargate AI infrastructure project</a> with OpenAI and Oracle.
Price Action: Arm&#8217;s shares rose 0.1% in after-hours trading, hitting $165. Earlier on Thursday, the stock closed at $164.83, marking a 6.06% gain, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Image via Shutterstock
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42965859/ray-dalio-warns-us-could-go-broke-as-debt-soars-urges-action-to-avert-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ray Dalio Warns US Could ‘Go Broke' As Debt Soars, Urges Action To Avert Crisis</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Comments

SoftBank Group

SoftBank Group (SFTBF) オプション

No option chain data available. Please try again later

ニュース

パートナーシップ

ベンジンガ・グローバル