SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son has said that robotics and physical AI could become trillion-dollar industries and major drivers of future global economic growth.
Speaking to CNBC on Monday, Son said he
was particularly optimistic about the future of humanoid robots and industrial automation, with “physical AI as a core” element of the transformation.
His remarks came a day after SoftBank announced plans to invest 75 billion euros (around $87 billion) in artificial intelligence infrastructure in France. The project includes building 5 gigawatts of AI data-centre capacity and represents one of the company’s biggest AI commitments so far.
AI Revolution ‘Just Beginning’, Says Son
Son also compared the current AI boom to previous technology revolutions, arguing that its impact would far exceed that of the internet bubble era. According to him, AI remains in the early stages of development.
“This is just the beginning of a technological revolution,” Son said, adding that AI-driven advances could continue shaping industries for the next 50 to 100 years.
The billionaire investor dismissed concerns that enthusiasm around AI resembles a market bubble. While acknowledging that corrections are a normal part of investing, he argued that downturns often create the best opportunities for long-term investors.
Reflecting on historical market crashes, including the 1929 Wall Street collapse and the bursting of the dot-com bubble, Son said markets eventually rebounded on the back of strong earnings and cash generation.
“That kind of thing is going to happen. There may be some correction, but that will be the best investment opportunity time,” he said.
SoftBank Expands Its AI Ambitions
SoftBank has expanded aggressively across the AI sector in recent years. Reports in April indicated the company was considering a $100 billion initial public offering for Roze AI, a new venture focused on AI infrastructure and robotics. The project aims to improve data-centre development through technologies including autonomous robots.
SoftBank’s investments in companies such as Alibaba, OpenAI and Arm have helped establish it as one of the world’s most influential AI investors.
