OpenAI and SoftBank have announced a new cybersecurity service called "Patching as a Service" that uses advanced AI to help Japanese enterprises identify and fix security vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them. The service combines OpenAI's artificial intelligence capabilities with SoftBank's operational expertise to support vulnerability assessments, remediation planning, and implementation advisory for organizations protecting Japan's critical infrastructure.

Why Is AI-Powered Cybersecurity Becoming Urgent?

The threat landscape has shifted dramatically. Malicious actors are increasingly using AI to automate and scale cyberattacks, making the security challenges facing critical infrastructure systems more severe than ever before. As cyberattack methods grow more sophisticated and automated, vulnerabilities can be exploited to trigger system outages, data breaches, and service interruptions that pose substantial risks to both business continuity and society at large.

Organizations now face a growing challenge: continuously identifying potential vulnerabilities and determining appropriate remedial measures. The difficulty of these security tasks has become greater than ever, especially as AI model capabilities continue to evolve rapidly. While AI models can support a range of cybersecurity workflows, expert cybersecurity teams remain critical for vulnerability assessment, prioritization, and remediation planning.

How Does the New Service Work?

• Vulnerability Assessment: The service helps enterprises identify potential security weaknesses across their systems using OpenAI's cybersecurity technologies.
• Remediation Planning: Expert teams work with organizations to develop strategies for fixing identified vulnerabilities and prioritizing which issues to address first.
• Implementation Advisory: SoftBank provides operational guidance to help enterprises execute security improvements and strengthen their defenses.

SoftBank has already tested this approach internally. The company carried out a large-scale vulnerability assessment across its own systems using OpenAI's cybersecurity technologies and observed promising results in identifying potential vulnerabilities. SoftBank's cybersecurity team gained operational experience through this internal initiative, and those learnings will now be applied to the rollout of Patching as a Service.

SoftBank Corp. will progressively begin outreach to selected eligible companies supporting Japan's critical infrastructure to accept applications for vulnerability assessments. This phased approach allows the companies to refine their service delivery and ensure quality support for participating organizations.

What Are Industry Leaders Saying About This Partnership?

"Attempted cyberattacks powered by advanced AI will become widespread. We're determined to defend against them by using state-of-the-art AI," said Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp.

Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp.

"Leveraging the practical expertise we've acquired through our use of OpenAI's cybersecurity technologies, we'll confront the increasingly sophisticated cyber threats targeting Japan's critical infrastructure," stated Junichi Miyakawa, President and CEO of SoftBank Corp.

Junichi Miyakawa, President and CEO of SoftBank Corp.

"AI is transforming cybersecurity, and we're focused on building durable programs that help it accelerate defenders. We're excited to work with SoftBank to deliver the transformational benefits of our cyber models to more organizations in Japan and strengthen the systems all of us rely on," said Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI

The partnership reflects a broader recognition that defending against AI-powered attacks requires AI-powered defenses. Rather than positioning AI as purely a threat to cybersecurity, OpenAI and SoftBank are demonstrating how the same technology can be harnessed to help organizations stay ahead of evolving threats.

This initiative marks a significant step in bringing enterprise-grade AI cybersecurity capabilities to Japan's critical infrastructure sector. By combining OpenAI's advanced AI models with SoftBank's operational knowhow and established relationships with infrastructure operators, the partnership aims to raise the baseline security posture of systems that millions of people depend on daily.