SoftBank partners with OpenAI to enter the network security arena and launch AI network security products in the Japanese market.

On Tuesday, Japanese SoftBank Group announced the launch of a cybersecurity product aimed at addressing unknown network vulnerabilities and attacks caused by artificial intelligence (AI). The product, called "Patching as a Service," will be introduced in the Japanese market through SoftBank's domestic telecommunications subsidiary in collaboration with OpenAI, a joint venture established last November. This new product launch deepens the cooperation between the two companies, which had previously been developing AI system integration services for Japanese businesses. Meanwhile, concerns about the security risks posed by the latest AI technology have been growing. Just last week, the U.S. government suspended access for foreign nationals to the Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models from OpenAI's competitor Anthropic, citing national security concerns. SoftBank's founder and CEO Masayoshi Son stated at a demonstration for corporate clients in Tokyo, "We aim to create a system that can defend Japan's critical infrastructure." "We hope to use this new weapon from OpenAI for defense, as we believe it is our duty," Son added. SoftBank Group is one of OpenAI's biggest supporters, with a cumulative commitment of $64.6 billion by the end of 2026. SoftBank CEO Junichi Miyakawa stated at the demonstration on Tuesday that approximately 50 people are currently working on promoting the product, with plans to expand the team to around 1000 people in the future.