SoftBank CEO Predicts Artificial Super Intelligence by 2035, Requiring $9 Trillion Investment

SoftBank CEO's Bold Prediction for Artificial Super Intelligence

Masayoshi Son, the visionary CEO of SoftBank Group, has once again captured the attention of the tech world with his ambitious predictions about the future of artificial intelligence. Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Son reiterated his belief in the imminent arrival of Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) by 2035 1

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Defining Artificial Super Intelligence

According to Son, ASI will be a quantum leap beyond current AI capabilities. He defines it as an intelligence that is 10,000 times smarter than the human brain 1

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. This is in contrast to the current state of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), which Son believes is at the same level as human intelligence 1

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The Massive Investment Required

Son's vision for ASI comes with a staggering price tag. He predicts that realizing this level of AI will require:

• $9 trillion in cumulative capital expenditure for data centers and chips 1

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• 200 million GPU chips 1

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• 400GW of AI data center power, surpassing the total US electricity supply 4

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Despite the enormous figures, Son argues that this investment is "still very reasonable" and potentially "too small" given the potential returns 1

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Economic Impact and Potential Returns

The SoftBank CEO is optimistic about the economic potential of ASI:

• He estimates that if ASI replaces just 5% of GDP in 10 years, it could deliver up to $4 trillion in profits annually 1

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• Son believes that four companies could potentially make trillion-dollar profits from ASI, and he aims for SoftBank to be one of them 4

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Investment Strategies and Market Predictions

Son's bullish outlook on AI is reflected in his investment strategies and market predictions:

• He believes chip maker Nvidia is currently undervalued, given the projected growth in AI spending over the next decade 1

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• SoftBank has recently invested $500 million in OpenAI's funding round, signaling its commitment to AI 1

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• Son mentioned he is "saving up funds" for "the next big move," though he didn't provide specific details about his investment plans 1

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Challenges and Concerns

While Son's vision is ambitious, he acknowledges potential challenges:

• He warns that not regulating AI could be "super dangerous" 1

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• The massive power requirements and financial investment needed for ASI development may be beyond the reach of most entities, including many governments 4

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SoftBank's Track Record and Future Focus

It's worth noting that Son's investment record has been mixed:

• SoftBank's Vision Fund vehicles have faced challenges, with many high-growth startups losing value 2

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• As of June 2024, the funds were down $2.4 billion in aggregate 2

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Despite these setbacks, Son remains committed to AI-focused investments:

• He sees Arm, a SoftBank-owned company, becoming an "AI-centric chip company very soon" 1

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• Son expressed interest in AI robotics, viewing the convergence of ASI and robotics as a potentially "tremendous product" 1

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As the tech world watches Son's bold predictions unfold, the race towards Artificial Super Intelligence continues to captivate investors, researchers, and policymakers alike.