SoftBank’s $5.8B Nvidia Sale Marks Shift Toward AI Innovation

SoftBank has sold its $5.8 billion stake in Nvidia as it doubles down on OpenAI, underscoring its commitment to AI-driven innovation. The sale comes after Nvidia’s extraordinary stock performance that briefly made it the world’s most valuable company.
The Japanese tech investor reported quarterly profits of 2.5 trillion yen, up sharply from the previous year. Much of that gain came from AI-linked assets, reaffirming the conglomerate’s pivot toward next-generation technology ventures.
CFO Yoshimitsu Goto explained that SoftBank’s OpenAI investments would surpass $30 billion this year, requiring capital redeployment. “This sale isn’t about Nvidia’s outlook; it’s about funding our vision for AI’s future,” he said.
Following the announcement, Nvidia shares declined 3.5%, contributing to a broader dip in major tech stocks. Arm and Micron both dropped more than 5% in early trading as AI-sector volatility spread across the market.
Analysts interpret SoftBank’s move as a signal that the company wants to back the “brains” of AI — software, data, and learning models — rather than the chips that power them. Its growing focus on OpenAI aligns with founder Masayoshi Son’s long-standing bet on intelligent machines.