SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son announced at the SoftBank World conference in Tokyo on July 14 that the global AI infrastructure will require nearly $5 trillion in annual investment by 2040 to support AI contributing 20% of worldwide GDP [1, 2, 3]. Son stated, "Every year US$5 trillion, or 800 trillion yen, you might think that’s a lie, but I am confident that’s what it will cost," emphasizing the scale of funds needed to build and maintain AI systems [2].
He added, "The business model will be viable because by 2040, if AI revenue makes up 20 per cent of global GDP, spending 800 trillion yen a year is a rounding error," reflecting confidence in AI’s long-term economic impact [2]. Son also dismissed concerns about an AI bubble as "absurd," saying, "I don’t think people who ask that question know what AI is about" [2].
SoftBank has already invested tens of billions into AI, including a cumulative investment expected to exceed $60 billion in OpenAI by the end of 2026, as well as funding AI data centers and robotics ventures [2, 3].
Son highlighted the massive energy demand AI will generate, projecting that AI data centers will require power generation of 3 terawatts by 2040—1.8 times the current global electricity consumption [2, 3]. Initially, most of this power will come from natural gas, but over time nuclear fusion is expected to become the primary clean and economical energy source. Son said, "Will we use solar power in space as Elon Musk says? Maybe we will use both, but if you ask me fusion on earth will be the cheaper, cleaner energy source" [2].
Looking further ahead, Son envisions a future where 100 trillion AI agents operate autonomously, making decisions and communicating to drive society [2, 3].
There is some disagreement on the total annual investment figure for AI. While most sources cite $5 trillion per year, one source reported a $6.5 trillion figure (in Singapore dollars) for 2040 [1, 2, 3].
Son’s forecasts underscore continued large-scale investments in the AI sector, with plans for steadily increasing capital outlays over the next decades. SoftBank’s next expected milestone is surpassing $60 billion invested into OpenAI by the end of 2026 [2, 3].
