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SoftBank’s Son says AI needs $5 trillion a year
Masayoshi Son says AI is no bubble and will require about $5 trillion in annual global spending on data centers, chips, energy, and infrastructure.
Image: iXBT
SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son says fears of an AI bubble are misplaced, arguing that the buildout behind artificial intelligence will demand roughly $5 trillion a year worldwide.
Speaking to executives at the company’s annual event in Tokyo on July 16, 2026, Son dismissed doubts about AI as outdated.
“Asking whether AI is a bubble is stupid. AI will completely change our lives, and it will do so in a way that will bring profit.”
He went further, saying:
“Those who refuse to develop are closing their world. Those who condemn AI are themselves spewing evil.”
Recent market anxiety has centered on whether soaring valuations for companies such as Nvidia and massive spending on data centers can ultimately deliver returns that match expectations for AI-driven profits. Son pushed back on that view, comparing skepticism around AI to doubting the usefulness of cars or airplanes.
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Son, who founded SoftBank more than 40 years ago and became one of Japan’s best-known technology investors, said the money will be needed to expand:
- data centers
- computer chip production
- energy systems
- other AI-related infrastructure
He also said that by 2040, about 20% of global GDP will be replaced by industries tied to AI and what he called the world of superintelligence.
SoftBank has invested $34.6 billion in OpenAI. Last year, the company sold its stake in Nvidia to free up funds for further AI and data center investments. It also recently launched a battery business in Japan aimed at building next-generation power infrastructure as electricity demand rises with AI use.
Enterprise Editor
Marcus follows the money. He covers enterprise software, cloud architecture, and the tectonic shifts in Big Tech strategy. He translates dense earnings calls and complex M&A activity into actionable insights about where the industry is actually heading. If a tech giant makes a silent pivot, Marcus is usually the first to notice.
via iXBT
