SoftBank Group’s board has approved a second installment amounting to US$22.5 billion to complete its US$30 billion investment commitment in OpenAI, according to a report. The move is contingent on the AI startup finalising a corporate-restructuring plan that could lead to an eventual public listing. With major backers such as SoftBank signalling confidence, the IPO path for OpenAI appears increasingly likely. Analysts say the development may accelerate other public-market exits in the AI sector and fuel further investor interest in high-growth infrastructure plays.