The Hidden Money Loop in AI’s Biggest Deals
▼ Summary
– SoftBank and OpenAI formed a 50-50 joint venture called “Crystal Intelligence” to sell enterprise AI tools in Japan.
– SoftBank’s role as a major investor in OpenAI raises questions about whether AI deals create real economic value or just circulate money.
– Listeners can subscribe to the Equity podcast on various platforms and follow it on social media for more insights.
A new joint venture between SoftBank and OpenAI, branded as Crystal Intelligence, aims to market enterprise AI tools across Japan. While this partnership appears to be a standard international expansion, it has sparked debate among industry observers. The central issue revolves around SoftBank’s dual role as both a collaborator and a major financial backer of OpenAI, leading some to question whether such arrangements generate genuine economic growth or simply recycle capital within a closed ecosystem.
During a recent episode of the Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec and Anthony Ha, alongside AI editor Russell Brandom, explored the underlying skepticism surrounding the deal. They examined its implications for the long-term viability of the prevailing AI investment framework and discussed what this type of financial structure could mean for the broader technology sector.
Listeners can access the Equity podcast through multiple platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Overcast, and Spotify. For ongoing updates and discussions, the show maintains a presence on X and Threads under the handle @EquityPod.
(Source: TechCrunch)
