Archive · 14 Sep 2026
SoftBank Shares Plunge as AI Safety Warnings Rattle Investors
SoftBank invests a lot of money in artificial intelligence companies.
Its shares dropped sharply in Tokyo after leaders at OpenAI and Anthropic said advanced AI should be developed more carefully.
They want companies to add safety checks because some AI systems have been linked to security problems.
Investors worry that slower development could delay profits from AI investments.
SoftBank may invest nearly $65 billion in OpenAI, making it especially sensitive to changes in AI valuations.
The company is also borrowing money and selling bonds to fund its investments and acquisitions.
OpenAI says it will not go public in 2026, while Anthropic is considering an IPO as early as next month.
Investors are weighing AI’s possible long-term growth against high prices, uncertain profits and SoftBank’s rising debt.
SoftBank shares fell more than 13% to 14% in Tokyo on Monday, marking their steepest decline since late June.
The selloff followed calls from OpenAI and Anthropic leaders for a slower, more cautious approach to advanced AI development.
SoftBank’s total investment in OpenAI is expected to approach $65 billion by October, increasing its exposure to AI valuations and uncertain returns.
The company is increasing its leverage through a planned ¥1 trillion retail bond sale and loans linked to its OpenAI investment, with reports citing facilities of $10 billion and $11.87 billion.
Investors are also concerned about delayed AI revenue, competition, security breaches, rising debt and uncertainty over OpenAI’s potential public listing.
- Who
- SoftBank Group Corp., founder and CEO Masayoshi Son, OpenAI and Anthropic executives, and investors.
- What
- SoftBank shares plunged as investors reassessed the risks and potential returns of its large AI investments.
- When
- The decline occurred on Monday, September 14, 2026, after AI safety comments made in recent days.
- Where
- SoftBank shares fell in Tokyo.
- Why
- Investors were concerned that a slower, safer approach to advanced AI could affect valuations and returns, while SoftBank is heavily exposed through investments, infrastructure projects and debt-funded bets.
Cautious AI Development
Continued AI Expansion
Development pace
Cautious AI Development
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman support a more measured pace for developing the most advanced AI systems because of safety concerns and recent security breaches.
Continued AI Expansion
SoftBank’s strategy is built around continued expansion in AI companies, infrastructure and data centers, with Masayoshi Son maintaining strong confidence in AI’s long-term potential.
Growth outlook
Cautious AI Development
Additional safeguards, including independent third-party assessments proposed by Anthropic, could address risks linked to frontier AI.
Continued AI Expansion
Dario Amodei has said that slower frontier-AI development would not necessarily mean weaker spending or slower growth in the sector.
Public-market prospects
Cautious AI Development
OpenAI’s decision not to pursue a 2026 public listing removes a potential near-term catalyst and could delay SoftBank’s ability to monetize its stake.
Continued AI Expansion
Anthropic has selected Nasdaq for a proposed IPO that could occur as early as next month, offering a contrasting public-market path.
- Reported share decline
- More than 13% to 14% in Tokyo on Monday, depending on the report
- Decline from June peak
- Approximately 30%
- Expected OpenAI investment
- Close to $65 billion by October
- Planned bond offering
- ¥1 trillion, or about $6.5 billion, in retail bonds
- OpenAI-linked financing
- Reports cite a $10 billion loan backed by OpenAI shares and an additional $11.87 billion loan secured to support the investment
- OpenAI listing plan
- OpenAI says it will not pursue a public listing in 2026
- Anthropic listing plan
- Anthropic has selected Nasdaq for a proposed IPO that could occur as early as next month
- Recent quarterly result
- SoftBank reported a profit for the June quarter, helped by gains from Intel and ByteDance holdings
