SoftBank and OpenAI Unveil Cristal Intelligence to Drive AI Adoption in Japan

OpenAI and SoftBank Group have announced a partnership to develop and market an advanced enterprise AI solution called “Cristal Intelligence.” Cristal Intelligence is designed to integrate seamlessly with company-specific systems and data and provides secure and customized AI solutions for enterprises. 

SoftBank Group will invest $3 billion annually in this collaboration to deploy OpenAI’s AI technologies across its subsidiaries, including Arm and SoftBank Corp. The company will also implement ChatGPT Enterprise for employees, making it the first organization to scale Cristal Intelligence globally.

Both companies have jointly established SB OpenAI Japan, a new entity with equal ownership stakes, to strengthen this collaboration. SoftBank aims to drive AI adoption and innovation, leveraging the opportunities presented by global AI initiatives through this initiative. SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman introduced the partnership at an event in Tokyo, inviting Japanese enterprises to explore AI-driven transformation.

SoftBank Corp. is set to automate over 100 million workflows using Cristal intelligence, integrating AI agents across its operations. Arm will leverage Cristal to enhance innovation and productivity. To support AI training and fine-tuning, SB OpenAI Japan will provide a secure environment for businesses to customize AI agents using their proprietary data, ensuring seamless integration with their existing IT systems.

At the Transforming Business through AI event in Tokyo, SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman discussed their vision for AI-driven transformation. Son, using a shiny blue crystal ball as a metaphor, highlighted Cristal’s capabilities in planning, marketing, and analyzing legacy systems. 

SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle are collaborating on Stargate, a $500 billion initiative to strengthen AI infrastructure in the U.S. and beyond. Son confirmed that the project would extend to Japan and other countries, further advancing AI capabilities globally. Meanwhile, OpenAI’s “deep research” feature will soon be available in Japan with Japanese language support, allowing AI to generate reports by searching vast online sources.

Beyond Japan, SoftBank and OpenAI are also involved in the Stargate project, a U.S.-backed initiative supported by Oracle and former President Trump. The project plans to invest up to $500 billion in AI infrastructure. 

Masayoshi Son, SoftBank’s CEO, confirmed that Stargate will expand globally, including into Japan. Meanwhile, the AI sector is witnessing rising competition from DeepSeek, a Chinese firm offering low-cost yet highly effective AI models that are challenging established players.