OpenAI and SoftBank Forge Deal to Transform Enterprise AI

Enterprise AI has hit a pivotal moment. Companies are moving past experimental phases and diving into full-scale deployments.

The focus has shifted from building general-purpose AI models to developing systems that integrate deeply with business operations.

This shift demands not only heavy investment in computing infrastructure but also strategic partnerships with enterprise solution providers.

These requirements are at the heart of OpenAI’s new partnership with SoftBank Group. Together, they plan to develop and market an enterprise AI system called Cristal intelligence, in a deal valued at US$3bn annually.

The partnership will see OpenAI’s technology deployed across SoftBank’s portfolio, including semiconductor giant Arm, which SoftBank Group holds a stake in, and Japanese telecom firm SoftBank Corp. SoftBank Corp is a spun-out affiliate of SoftBank Group and SoftBank Group's former flagship brand. 

A new joint venture, SB OpenAI Japan, will also be created to promote the technology to Japanese businesses.

Sam Altman, Chief Executive Officer of OpenAI, sums up the ambition behind the collaboration: “This partnership with SoftBank will accelerate our vision for bringing transformative AI to some of the world's most influential companies—starting with Japan.”

Why Cristal Intelligence Signals a New Phase in Enterprise AI

Cristal intelligence builds on OpenAI’s o1-series models, launched in 2024, which feature advanced reasoning capabilities. But this new system goes beyond that. Its goal is to integrate seamlessly with enterprise data and systems, offering customised AI solutions tailored to individual companies.

The system is designed to automate a wide range of business tasks, from financial reporting to document creation and customer service.

SoftBank Corp has ambitious plans, aiming to automate 100 million workflows using Cristal intelligence. This marks a significant shift from using AI as a support tool to making it a central part of daily business operations.

Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp, highlights the transformative potential: "We are thrilled to bring Cristal intelligence, Advanced Enterprise AI that is customised specifically for each company, to the market in a big way.

"This initiative will not only transform the way SoftBank Group operates but also revolutionise the way companies work in Japan and around the globe.”

The joint venture, SB OpenAI Japan, will play a key role in this transformation. It will offer Japanese enterprises the ability to securely train AI models using their own internal data, creating AI agents that are tightly integrated with their IT systems.

This approach not only boosts productivity but also ensures data privacy and security—crucial factors for businesses handling sensitive information.

Infrastructure and Integration: The Backbone of Enterprise AI

One of the standout features of the partnership is how it leverages the strengths of both companies. SoftBank Group’s portfolio companies will receive priority access to OpenAI’s latest models in Japan.

For example, Arm, which specialises in semiconductor intellectual property, plans to integrate AI technology across its operations.

Rene Haas, CEO of Arm, explains the vision: “Arm is partnering with OpenAI and SoftBank to drive unprecedented productivity across the global technology ecosystem, setting new benchmarks and building a future in which AI agents span from edge to cloud on Arm.”

Supporting this AI deployment requires significant infrastructure. SoftBank plans to invest heavily in building data centres and computing platforms tailored to the demands of AI applications.

These facilities will support everything from cloud-based services to edge devices, enabling enterprises to train and deploy AI models efficiently and securely.

Junichi Miyakawa, President and CEO of SoftBank Corp, outlines the broader vision: “To realise our long-term vision of building next-generation social infrastructure with the aim of implementing AI into society, SoftBank Corp has been promoting various initiatives, including the buildout of distributed AI data centres and Japan top-level AI computing platforms.”

The partnership also has a global dimension. While the initial focus is on Japan, the model developed through this collaboration is designed to be scalable worldwide.

The joint venture will serve as a blueprint for how AI can be integrated into enterprise environments globally, offering businesses a framework to harness AI’s potential effectively.

In the end, this partnership between OpenAI and SoftBank isn’t just about deploying another AI system. It’s about setting the stage for a future where AI is embedded in the fabric of enterprise operations, driving efficiency, innovation and growth at an unprecedented scale.

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