SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son expressed strong confidence in the long-term potential of artificial intelligence (AI) investments, dismissing concerns about a possible market bubble as unfounded and outdated. Speaking at an annual company event in Tokyo on Tuesday, Son emphasized that AI will fundamentally transform everyday life while generating substantial profits.

“To ask whether AI is a bubble is a foolish question,” Son stated. He compared skepticism about AI’s prospects to questioning the utility of cars and airplanes in their early days. “Those who refuse to evolve are closing down their world. Those who condemn AI are themselves spitting upward,” he added.

Son’s remarks come amid recent volatility in financial markets, where sharp increases in share prices of leading AI-related companies such as Nvidia have prompted some analysts and investors to voice concerns about the sustainability of gains. Additionally, heavy investments in data centers and hardware to support AI applications have sparked debate over whether the returns will meet high expectations.

A recognized pioneer in Japan’s technology investment landscape, Son founded SoftBank more than 40 years ago and has invested tens of billions of dollars in AI ventures. He projected that nearly $5 trillion in global annual investments will be necessary to scale up infrastructure, including data centers, chip production, and energy systems, to meet growing AI demands.

SoftBank operates through its Vision Funds, a broad portfolio of technology-focused investments, alongside its telecommunications and energy businesses. The Tokyo-based company reported a nearly fivefold increase in profits for the fiscal year ending in March, reaching 5 trillion yen ($32 billion). This surge in earnings largely reflected gains from its AI investments.

Son’s outlook underscores SoftBank’s commitment to AI as a central pillar of its growth strategy, signaling continued large-scale funding efforts despite market uncertainties.