SoftBank's Masayoshi Son predicts fusion power will fuel AI's future as demand soars

SoftBank's Masayoshi Son Champions AI Adoption at Annual Event

At the annual SoftBank World event in Tokyo, SoftBank's Masayoshi Son delivered a forceful defense of AI while outlining his vision for the technology's transformative impact on the global economy1

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. The 68-year-old billionaire ridiculed opponents of AI, comparing their resistance to rejecting cars and airplanes in previous eras. "Those who dislike AI have essentially refused their own evolution," Son told a room of executives, adding that "those who condemn AI are themselves spitting upwards"1

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. His comments reflect a broader push by SoftBank to position itself at the center of the AI revolution through major investments in Arm, OpenAI, and other tech companies.

Fusion Power Emerges as Solution for Energy Demands of AI

Masayoshi Son predicted that nuclear fusion will become the primary energy source for AI data centers within 15 years, addressing one of the technology's most pressing challenges2

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. He estimated that 3 terawatts of data center capacity will be needed by 2040 to support trillions of AI agents and billions of humanoid robots1

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. This figure represents roughly a third of total installed power capacity globally, according to International Energy Agency estimates. While natural gas will provide the bulk of power needs in the near term, Son argued that fusion power offers a cleaner, safer alternative. "Fusion will become the main source of a new kind of cheaper, clean and safe energy here on Earth," he stated2

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. The shift marks a significant evolution in Son's energy stance, particularly given his previous opposition to nuclear power following the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

Bold Economic Predictions for AI's Future

The SoftBank founder expressed bullish views on AI's economic potential, predicting with confidence that the technology would account for $46 trillion of global GDP within 15 years and generate annual profits of half that figure1

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. Son dismissed growing questions about whether the hundreds of billions of dollars spent on AI hardware will deliver returns, calling such concerns "an incredibly foolish question" posed by people who do not thoroughly understand or use AI2

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. He warned that if Japan fails to recognize AI's potential, the country's economy will miss out on wealth creation opportunities similar to those that produced tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Meta Platforms2

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Challenges and Market Pressures Facing SoftBank

Despite Son's optimistic outlook, investors are growing wary of SoftBank Group's rising leverage and the possibility of delays to OpenAI's initial public offering1

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. SoftBank's shares have risen 35% so far this year but have come under pressure since peaking in June due to concerns over the timing of OpenAI's blockbuster listing1

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. The company has been attempting to build a role across data center infrastructure, AI models, chips, and robots to cement itself at the center of what Son believes will be an evolution to superintelligence. SoftBank's energy arm was selected to deliver a $33 billion gas-fired power plant in Ohio as part of a $550 billion investment framework agreed between Washington and Tokyo1

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. However, the viability of fusion technology remains uncertain, with many technological and financial challenges still to overcome before it becomes a practical energy source, according to BloombergNEF2

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. As electricity consumption from AI continues to climb, the race to secure sustainable power solutions will shape the trajectory of the industry and determine which companies can capitalize on the economic opportunities ahead.