Key Takeaways
- • SoftBank Group Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son projected at SoftBank World 2026 in Tokyo that global AI infrastructure investment will reach $5 trillion (approximately ¥800 trillion) annually by 2040.
- • Son forecast 1 billion humanoids and 100 trillion autonomously operating AI agents in operation by 2040, and estimated AI-related activity will account for 20% of global GDP.
- • Son argued AI is entering a self-replication and self-evolution phase, declaring that "the era of humans as the pinnacle life form is ending" and that the international AI race cannot be halted.
- • Son urged corporate leaders to adopt "Return on AI" (ROA) as a new metric for measuring the value created by AI investment.
Summary
SoftBank Group (9984.T) Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son delivered a keynote on July 14 at the company's annual event, SoftBank World 2026, in Tokyo. Son argued that artificial intelligence is entering a phase of self-replication and self-evolution, after which, he said, the trend will be unstoppable and humans will no longer be the most intelligent beings on Earth. He drew an analogy to biological evolution, noting that life progressed from bacteria to humans through these two mechanisms, and said the same principles will now be embedded in AI agents.
Son described a shift from humans designing AI agents to agents spawning other agents. "The era of humans creating agents is over. Agents will create agents," he said, predicting that generated agents will communicate with one another and autonomously improve their capabilities.
Son's projections for 2040 include 1 billion humanoids in operation and 100 trillion autonomously active AI agents. He estimated global GDP will reach ¥3.7 quadrillion that year, with AI-related revenue accounting for 20%, or ¥7,000 trillion (approximately $43.1 trillion). He also said that the international development race makes any regulatory brake ineffective, stating that "even if Japan tries to stop it, the U.S. will keep moving."
Son urged corporate executives to accelerate AI adoption and proposed Return on AI (ROA) as a metric to visualize how much corporate value AI adoption has added. He also suggested that humans should pursue personal interests while using AI to augment their capabilities and evolve into "superhumans." The forecasts are management projections presented in a keynote and have not been independently verified.
Son described a shift from humans designing AI agents to agents spawning other agents. "The era of humans creating agents is over. Agents will create agents," he said, predicting that generated agents will communicate with one another and autonomously improve their capabilities.
Son's projections for 2040 include 1 billion humanoids in operation and 100 trillion autonomously active AI agents. He estimated global GDP will reach ¥3.7 quadrillion that year, with AI-related revenue accounting for 20%, or ¥7,000 trillion (approximately $43.1 trillion). He also said that the international development race makes any regulatory brake ineffective, stating that "even if Japan tries to stop it, the U.S. will keep moving."
Son urged corporate executives to accelerate AI adoption and proposed Return on AI (ROA) as a metric to visualize how much corporate value AI adoption has added. He also suggested that humans should pursue personal interests while using AI to augment their capabilities and evolve into "superhumans." The forecasts are management projections presented in a keynote and have not been independently verified.
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