SoftBank CEO: $5 Trillion Annually Needed for AI Demand

SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son dismissed concerns about an artificial intelligence investment bubble, asserting that such doubts are unfounded and that AI will fundamentally transform lives and generate significant profits. He stated that "those who condemn AI are themselves spitting upward," comparing such skepticism to questioning the utility of cars and planes.

Son estimates that approximately $5 trillion in annual global investments will be necessary to support the expansion of data centers, increase computer chip production, and develop the energy systems and other infrastructure required for AI. He projects that by 2040, AI-related industries will account for roughly 20% of the world's GDP, ushering in an era of superintelligence.

SoftBank, a prominent technology investor, has a history of early AI support, having invested tens of billions of dollars in related companies. The company's Vision Funds manage a diverse portfolio, including telecommunications and energy businesses. Earlier this year, SoftBank reported a nearly five-fold increase in profits for the fiscal year ending March, reaching 5 trillion yen ($32 billion), attributed to its AI investments.

SoftBank has invested $34.6 billion in OpenAI and previously divested its stake in Nvidia to reallocate funds toward AI and data center investments. In anticipation of increased electricity demand driven by AI, SoftBank has also launched a battery business in Japan focused on next-generation electric power infrastructure.