Australia's export price index rose 3.6%, while its import price index advanced 0.2% in the fourth quarter of 2024.

SoftBank is in talks to inject up to $25 billion directly into OpenAI, positioning the Japanese tech conglomerate to become the ChatGPT maker's largest financial backer, according to initial reporting from the Financial Times on Wednesday evening.

TOKYO -- Japanese billionaire Masayoshi Son's SoftBank Group plans to contact big investment firms including Apollo Global Management about fundraising for a U.S. artificial intelligence project proposed by President Donald Trump, Nikkei has learned.

Asian shares are trading mixed after Wall Street’s tech superstars tumbled as a competitor from China raised doubts over the recent artificial-intelligence market frenzy

Japan’s chip-related shares including Advantest Corp. tumbled as Chinese AI startup DeepSeek gained traction, raising concern the app will threaten US’s technological leadership.Most Read from BloombergWhat Happened to Hanging Out on the Street?

SoftBank Group is in talks to lead a $500 million funding round for Skild AI, a startup building robotics software, according to people familiar with the matter.

The company’s founder, Masayoshi Son, is a pioneer in technology investment in Japan. SoftBank Group does not give earnings forecasts.

Large technology firms paced declines, with Advantest Corp. sliding as much as 11% in Tokyo and SoftBank Group Corp. slumping 6%.

Announced on Day One of Trump’s second term, the news indicates that artificial intelligence is going to be a priority for the incoming administration.