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SoftBank Posts Fourth Straight Profit on OpenAI Gains

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SoftBank Group reported its fourth consecutive quarterly profit, buoyed by gains from its investment in OpenAI, even as it increased borrowing to expand its exposure to artificial intelligence.

The company posted a net profit of 248.6 billion yen for the October–December quarter, compared with a net loss a year earlier. A significant portion of the improvement came from the rising valuation of its OpenAI stake, which SoftBank said generated a total investment gain of nearly $20 billion by the end of December.

Founder and CEO Masayoshi Son has committed more than $30 billion to OpenAI, building an ownership stake of around 11% through Vision Fund 2. OpenAI is reportedly seeking an additional $100 billion in funding at a higher valuation, with prospective investors including Amazon and Nvidia.

To finance its AI strategy, SoftBank has relied on asset sales, bond issuance and loans backed by holdings such as chip designer Arm. It has also reduced stakes in companies including T-Mobile and expanded margin loans tied to its Arm and domestic telecom shares. The company’s loan-to-value ratio rose to 20.6% at the end of December, while its cash reserves declined.

As SoftBank deepens its investment in OpenAI, investors increasingly view the conglomerate as a proxy for the AI firm’s performance. While AI enthusiasm has lifted valuations, rising competition and escalating model development costs continue to shape market expectations.

Ackman’s Pershing Square Takes Stake in Meta, Sells Hilton

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Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has added Meta Platforms to his hedge fund portfolio while exiting its position in Hilton Worldwide Holdings, signaling a renewed focus on artificial intelligence-driven growth.

Ackman’s firm, Pershing Square Capital Management, invested roughly $2 billion—about 10% of its capital—into Meta late last year. The fund’s investment team said they believe Meta’s share price underestimates the long-term upside potential from AI, particularly in content recommendation systems, targeted advertising, and future AI-powered products such as digital assistants and wearables.

Despite investor concerns about Meta’s rising AI-related spending, Pershing Square argues the technology investments could strengthen engagement and revenue over time. Meta shares have declined modestly over the past year but have risen since the hedge fund initiated its position, according to client materials.

The move fits Ackman’s concentrated investment style. Known for holding a limited number of high-conviction positions, he previously invested in major technology names including Amazon and Alphabet. The shift away from Hilton and toward Meta highlights a broader trend among large investors rotating capital toward AI-linked opportunities.

Musk Says xAI Reorganized, Resulting in Layoffs

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Elon Musk said xAI has undergone a reorganization that resulted in layoffs, as the artificial intelligence company moves to streamline operations during a period of rapid expansion. In a post on X, Musk said the restructuring was aimed at improving execution speed but required “parting ways with some people.”

The changes come shortly after SpaceX announced plans to acquire xAI in a deal that would create a combined entity valued at approximately $1.25 trillion, with ambitions to pursue a public listing later this year. The merger is expected to support Musk’s broader strategy, including plans to deploy large-scale data centers in space.

Leadership shifts have also followed the restructuring. xAI co-founders Tony Wu and Jimmy Ba confirmed their resignations this week, bringing the number of original founders who have left the company to half of its initial twelve.

The reorganization signals a pivotal moment for xAI, which has been scaling its AI models and infrastructure amid intense global competition. The company’s next phase will likely focus on integrating operations with SpaceX while maintaining momentum in the fast-moving AI sector.