SoftBank Group is doubling down on artificial intelligence infrastructure with its latest acquisition—a $6.5 billion all-cash deal to buy AI chip startup Ampere Computing. The move positions SoftBank at the heart of the global AI race by securing cutting-edge semiconductor capabilities essential for powering next-generation AI models.
Founded in 2017 by former Intel executive Renee James, Ampere has quietly become a key player in the semiconductor space, designing high-performance chips built specifically for AI and cloud computing workloads. The Santa Clara-based company, which employs more than 1,000 semiconductor engineers, will now operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of SoftBank once the deal closes in the second half of 2025.
Ampere’s current investors, private equity giant Carlyle and Oracle, will exit entirely. Carlyle, which owns nearly 60% of Ampere, and Oracle, holding just over 32%, have agreed to sell their stakes, according to SoftBank’s statement.
For SoftBank, this acquisition isn’t just another deal—it’s a strategic move to strengthen its control over the rapidly expanding AI ecosystem. Notably, Ampere’s server chips are built on the ARM architecture, making it a natural fit with SoftBank’s broader portfolio. SoftBank remains the largest shareholder in Arm Holdings, which went public in 2023 after SoftBank acquired it for $32 billion back in 2016.
Ampere’s chips are already widely deployed, with customers like Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Oracle Cloud, Alibaba, Tencent, and enterprise tech giants such as HPE and Supermicro. Their cloud-native processors are engineered to deliver sustainable, high-performance computing—exactly what’s needed as AI workloads grow more complex and energy-intensive.
“The future of Artificial Super Intelligence demands breakthrough computing power,” said SoftBank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son. “Ampere’s semiconductor expertise and leadership in high-performance computing will accelerate our AI ambitions and strengthen our innovation footprint in the U.S.”
SoftBank has been on an aggressive push to secure its position in AI infrastructure. In recent months, the company announced a collaboration with OpenAI to develop advanced enterprise AI called Cristal Intelligence. It also invested in Stargate, a large-scale project building dedicated data centers for OpenAI across the U.S., and snapped up a former Sharp factory in Japan to further bolster its chip ambitions.
With Ampere, SoftBank adds a proven AI chip startup to its arsenal—one that’s already competing with major players like Nvidia and Intel in the AI server market. Ampere’s focus on ARM-based processors tailored for cloud-native and AI workloads sets it apart from legacy semiconductor firms.
Ampere’s CEO and founder Renee James, who previously led Intel’s data center group and worked at Carlyle, sees the acquisition as a perfect alignment of missions. “Joining forces with SoftBank allows us to accelerate our vision for sustainable AI computing,” she said. “We’re excited to continue pushing forward with our AmpereOne roadmap, delivering high-performance ARM processors purpose-built for the AI era.”
The acquisition is also a clear signal that SoftBank views semiconductor design as critical to AI supremacy. By bringing Ampere under its umbrella, SoftBank gains not just cutting-edge chip technology but also a talented engineering team capable of advancing AI compute capabilities for years to come.
As the global race for AI leadership intensifies, this deal positions SoftBank to control more of the critical infrastructure needed to power artificial super intelligence—securing its place at the forefront of the AI revolution.
