OpenAI recently announced a $1.5 billion stock buyback plan aimed at SoftBank. This plan is a continuation of SoftBank's investment after recently injecting $6.6 billion into OpenAI, which is now valued at $157 billion. According to insider sources, this transaction was driven by SoftBank's founder and CEO Masayoshi Son, who aims to acquire a larger stake in OpenAI. This financing not only provides SoftBank with an opportunity to increase its holdings in OpenAI.

OpenAI has achieved an $86 billion valuation through employee stock buybacks, balancing investor returns and public welfare in its equity structure. The company is making progress in commercialization with revenue growth exceeding expectations. OpenAI may be looking to adjust its equity structure to expedite the commercialization process while carefully selecting new investors, with Y Combinator and others potentially entering the scene.