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SoftBank and OpenAI announced\u00a0a new 50-50 joint venture<\/a>\u00a0this week to sell enterprise AI tools in Japan under the brand \u201cCrystal Intelligence.\u201d On paper,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0a straightforward international expansion deal. But SoftBank\u2019s role as a major investor in OpenAI is raising questions about whether AI\u2019s biggest deals are creating real economic value or just moving money in circles.\u00a0<\/p>\n On TechCrunch\u2019s\u00a0Equity<\/a>\u00a0podcast, Kirsten Korosec, Anthony\u00a0Ha,\u00a0and AI editor Russell Brandom break down why this deal has people skeptical, and what it signals about the sustainability of AI\u2019s current investment model, and more.<\/p>\n Subscribe to Equity on\u00a0Apple Podcasts<\/a>,\u00a0Overcast<\/a>,\u00a0Spotify<\/a>\u00a0and all the casts. You\u00a0also can\u00a0follow Equity on X<\/a> and Threads<\/a>, at @EquityPod.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n