SoftBank and OpenAI Partner to Deliver Enterprise AI in Japan

Group 1 - SoftBank and OpenAI have established a joint venture named SB OAI Japan to provide an enterprise AI solution called "Crystal intelligence" aimed at enhancing management and operational efficiency in Japanese companies [1][2] - The venture will integrate OpenAI's technology with local implementation and system integration services, with commercial availability expected in 2026 [2] - SoftBank Corp. will be the first to adopt the solution, utilizing it for product development and business transformation before offering it to other organizations [2][4] Group 2 - The initiative is part of SoftBank's strategy to transition into an AI-driven group, with employees currently using approximately 2.5 million custom GPTs for internal operations [3] - Insights gained from these internal initiatives will guide the rollout of Crystal intelligence [3] - Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, emphasized that this joint venture is a significant step towards advancing AI in influential companies, starting with Japan [3][4] Group 3 - Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp., stated that this venture signifies the beginning of a new era of innovation that will transform work and business management [4] - The partnership aims to facilitate broader AI adoption within Japan's corporate sector [4]