SoftBank Group CEO says $5 trillion a year needed globally to meet AI demand

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, July 16, 2026

SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son dismissed fears of an AI investment bubble, comparing skepticism to early doubts about revolutionary technologies and stressing AI’s vast profit potential. He highlighted SoftBank’s significant AI investments and projected global AI funding could reach $5 trillion annually, signaling his belief in AI as a key engine for future economic growth.

SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son has called concerns about an artificial intelligence (AI) investment bubble “absurd,” asserting that doubts about the sector are misguided and reminiscent of early skepticism toward innovations like cars and airplanes. Speaking on Tuesday at an annual company event in Tokyo, Son emphasized AI’s transformative potential and its capacity to generate substantial profits.

“To ask whether AI is a bubble is a foolish question,” Son said, addressing executives. He warned that resistance to AI development risks obsolescence, stating, “Those who refuse to evolve are closing down their world. Those who condemn AI are themselves spitting upward.”

His remarks come amid heightened market apprehension over rapidly rising valuations of AI-related companies, notably semiconductor leader Nvidia, and sizeable investments in data center infrastructure. Some investors question whether these trends will translate into long-term financial returns that align with lofty profit expectations associated with AI technologies.

Son, the founder of SoftBank and a veteran technology investor in Japan, has been a prominent early backer of AI, channeling tens of billions of dollars into AI-focused firms over the past years. He projects that global annual investment in AI could reach nearly $5 trillion to support the expansion of data centers, increase chip production, and develop energy and infrastructure systems necessary for AI deployment on a large scale.

SoftBank owns a diverse portfolio through its Vision Funds, which include ventures in telecommunications and energy sectors in addition to AI. The group’s financial performance underscores the payoff from its AI bets; for the fiscal year ending in March, SoftBank reported a nearly fivefold increase in profits to 5 trillion yen ($32 billion) year-on-year.

Son’s comments highlight his conviction that AI investment is a critical driver of future economic growth and innovation, despite ongoing debate among investors about market valuations and sustainable profitability in the sector.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.