SoftBank CEO Son Dismisses AI Bubble, Plans Data Centers

SoftBank Group founder and CEO Masayoshi Son has forcefully dismissed concerns that the artificial intelligence boom is a bubble, framing the technology as a historic opportunity that is only just beginning. Speaking at the company’s annual shareholder meeting in Tokyo on Wednesday, Son called such talk “blasphemy” and “an insult to AI.” The 68-year-old executive also announced he is abandoning his long-held plan to retire, committing to lead the Japanese conglomerate for another 10 to 15 years to pursue his vision of achieving artificial superintelligence.

Son outlined an aggressive strategy centered on massive investments in AI infrastructure, robotics, and data centers, positioning these as the foundational elements for the next technological era. He argued that the AI revolution could be 50 times larger than the dot-com boom and span the next century. To reflect this shift, shareholders approved amending SoftBank’s articles of incorporation to formally add AI, semiconductors, robotics, and data centers to its stated business purposes.

A key component of SoftBank’s strategy involves building enormous terrestrial data centers to support advanced AI systems. Son revealed the...