Masayoshi Son, the 68-year-old founder and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp., vehemently rejected the notion of an AI bubble, calling such talk "blasphemy" and "an insult to AI." During SoftBank's annual shareholder meeting, Son stated that the AI revolution is only just beginning and its potential remains largely untapped. He emphasized his belief that AI's capabilities will ultimately be 10,000 times smarter than human intelligence, a concept he refers to as "artificial superintelligence."
Son reaffirmed his intention to remain at the helm of SoftBank for another 10 to 15 years, into his 70s, to drive the global adoption of AI and transform SoftBank into a leading AI-powered robotics company. He expressed increased ambition, stating, "I have become greedier. I would like to do more over the next 10 to 15 years. I will stay healthy as long as I can." This statement indicates a delay in his previously discussed retirement plans, aligning with his vision to capitalize on the AI boom.
SoftBank's share price has benefited from Son's aggressive investment strategy in AI, including a significant stake in OpenAI. Son compared SoftBank to a "golden-egg-laying goose," emphasizing its role as the "factory that lays the eggs" in the AI sector. He also voiced frustration regarding the disparity between SoftBank’s market capitalization, approximately 37 trillion yen ($229 billion), and its total asset value of around 74 trillion yen.
In other developments, Son disclosed SoftBank's foray into robotics manufacturing at its "physical AI plant," claiming to be the first globally to mass-produce robots using other robots. He also mentioned SoftBank's interest in investing in Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) to enhance Japan's power supply and support AI data centers. SoftBank is actively building data centers in the U.S. and continues to invest in the robotics sector, showcasing Son's comprehensive strategy for the AI era. Son's career has seen various market fluctuations, including the dot-com bubble and the "valley of the coronavirus," providing him with experience in navigating economic ups and downs.
