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SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son Estimates $9 Trillion and 200 Million Chips Needed for Artificial Super Intelligence Development

Oct 29, 2024, 05:36 PM

Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank, has outlined a vision for achieving Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI), estimating that it will require a substantial investment of $9 trillion and the development of 200 million chips. Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference, Son emphasized that the projected capex is a reasonable figure, potentially even too low, given the scale of the undertaking. He argued that this investment is equivalent to about 5% of global GDP and suggested that if ASI can replace a portion of economic activity, it could yield significant returns within a decade. Son also noted that the endeavor would necessitate 400 gigawatts of power, surpassing the total electricity usage of the United States. His remarks come amid discussions of the broader economic implications of such investments, particularly in light of current global challenges like recession and deglobalization. Son's perspective highlights the urgency and scale of the technological mobilization required to realize the potential of ASI.