On February 3, 2025, OpenAI and SoftBank Group Corp. announced a partnership to develop and sell “Cristal Intelligence,” a cutting-edge enterprise AI designed to securely integrate company systems and data, customized for each organization. As part of the agreement, SoftBank Group will pay US$3 billion (approximately 450 billion yen) annually to deploy OpenAI’s solutions across its companies, becoming the first to implement Crystal Intelligence on a large scale. The deal will also include deploying existing tools like ChatGPT Enterprise for all SoftBank Group employees.
To further accelerate the deployment of Crystal Intelligence tailored to Japanese companies, OpenAI and SoftBank Group will establish a joint venture, “SB OpenAI Japan.” This joint venture will exclusively offer Crystal Intelligence to major Japanese companies. OpenAI will release the o1 series, an AI model capable of logical inference, in 2024, with plans to evolve this model into an AI agent capable of autonomously executing tasks by 2025. These AI agents will automate daily tasks such as preparing financial documents and managing customer inquiries, allowing users to focus on creativity and strategic decision-making.
SoftBank Group, Arm, and SoftBank Corp. share the vision of improving workplace efficiency and solving complex problems through AI. With Crystal Intelligence, the companies aim to create advanced system infrastructure adaptable to corporate needs. The integration of Crystal Intelligence throughout the SoftBank Group will accelerate AI adoption and system development. Through this partnership, SoftBank Group companies, including Arm and SoftBank Corp., will have exclusive access to OpenAI’s latest models in Japan.
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Arm stated that Crystal Intelligence would drive corporate transformation across all industries in Japan, helping to foster innovation and improve global AI development. SoftBank Corp. will use Crystal Intelligence to automate over 100 million tasks and business operations, enhancing efficiency within the ecosystem and creating new business opportunities. SoftBank Corp. and the joint venture will also establish a safe environment for data learning and fine-tuning to link AI agents to company systems.
SB OpenAI Japan will be a consolidated subsidiary of SoftBank Corp., with OpenAI, SoftBank Group Corp., and SoftBank Corp. each holding a 50% stake. The joint venture will focus on introducing AI agents suited to Japanese companies’ needs and building AI models on a global scale. Through this initiative, Japanese businesses will be able to automate processes, transform operations, and create new value by learning from their own data in a secure environment.
OpenAI will provide cutting-edge research, technology, and technical support to SB OpenAI Japan, while SoftBank Corp. will contribute engineers, sales staff, and its extensive domestic network to support expansion. Arm will ensure the required performance, efficiency, and scalability from the cloud to the edge, meeting the increasing computing demands driven by AI agents. This collaboration aims to lay the groundwork for AI transformation globally.
