TLDR
- SoftBank has launched a “Patching as a Service” cybersecurity product built on OpenAI technology, targeting Japan’s top 3,000 companies
- The service is delivered through SB OAI Japan, the 50:50 joint venture SoftBank and OpenAI set up last year
- CEO Masayoshi Son called Japan’s vulnerability to cyberattacks “a crisis,” framing the launch as a national duty
- The team working on the rollout will grow from around 50 people to 1,000
- SoftBank’s cumulative committed investment in OpenAI stands at $64.6 billion by end of 2026
SoftBank Group launched a new AI-powered cybersecurity service in Tokyo on Tuesday, using OpenAI technology to help Japanese businesses defend against cyberattacks.
The product, called “Patching as a Service,” targets Japan’s top 3,000 companies operating critical infrastructure — airports, power systems, and transportation networks.
The service is being rolled out through SB OAI Japan, the 50:50 joint venture between SoftBank Corp and OpenAI formed last November. The venture was created to develop and exclusively market AI services for the Japanese market.
CEO Masayoshi Son didn’t sugarcoat the threat. He compared Japan’s current exposure to cyberattacks to facing machine guns when you’re only prepared for rifle shots.
“We want to create a system where we will be able to defend critical Japanese infrastructure,” Son said at the Tokyo event.
“I feel it is our duty,” he added.
How the Service Works
The product works in two stages: first diagnosing weaknesses in a company’s systems, then analyzing what needs to be patched. Son repeatedly referred to the attackers as “the bad guys” throughout the presentation.
SoftBank Corp CEO Junichi Miyakawa said the team currently working on the rollout stands at around 50 people, with plans to scale that to 1,000.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was scheduled to appear in person but joined only via a short video. He explained his absence simply — his daughter was born earlier than expected. OpenAI Chief Research Officer Mark Chen attended in his place.
SoftBank’s Deep Ties to OpenAI
SoftBank is one of OpenAI’s largest investors. Its cumulative committed investment in OpenAI reaches $64.6 billion by the end of 2026.
The cybersecurity launch is the latest step in a broadening partnership. The two companies have been building AI system integration services for Japanese businesses since forming SB OAI Japan last year.
Last week, the U.S. government suspended access to Anthropic’s Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models to foreign nationals, citing national security concerns — a move that underlines the tightening landscape around AI and security globally.
SoftBank Corp (9434.T) and SoftBank Group (9984.T) both participated in Tuesday’s enterprise presentation in Tokyo.
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