SoftBank Founder Urges Japan to Embrace AI or Risk Losing Another 3 Decades
Masayoshi Son, the billionaire founder of SoftBank Group Corp., has made a passionate plea for Japan to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) or face the risk of losing out on another three decades of technological advancement. Speaking at the annual SoftBank World event, Son highlighted the urgent need for Japan to adopt AI early, as the country missed out on the initial wave of growth from the internet.
Son expressed frustration at the fact that over 70% of companies in Japan either ban or consider banning the use of generative AI. In his keynote address, he compared this attitude to saying don’t drive a car or use electricity, emphasizing that whether people like it or not, the AI revolution is inevitable.
This year, Son had been relatively absent from the public eye due to mounting losses at SoftBank’s flagship Vision Fund. However, with the surge in interest in AI, sparked by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and the recent IPO of Arm Holdings Plc, Son’s enthusiasm for the technology has been reignited.
During his 90-minute presentation, Son illustrated the potential consequences of refusing to use AI by referencing a goldfish in a fishbowl. He argued that those who do not embrace AI would become akin to the goldfish, unable to process information like language. Son also emphasized that AI will possess ten times the knowledge of all humanity within the next ten years.
Rene Haas, CEO of Arm Holdings, joined Son on stage to explain how the chip designer’s power-efficient architecture will become increasingly important with the proliferation of AI-powered devices in the future.
SoftBank is already taking steps to integrate AI into its operations. SoftBank Corp., Japan’s third-largest wireless carrier, has partnered with Microsoft Corp. to market OpenAI services in the country. Additionally, SoftBank is developing its own Japanese language chatbot and has influence over payments arm PayPay Corp., messaging app Line, and search engine Yahoo Japan.
In his closing remarks, Son urged Japan to wake up and stressed his desire to be on the side of evolution rather than being left behind. He shared his enjoyment of watching ChatGPT-bots debate, which he views as a more cost-effective alternative to observing his directors argue over ideas.
As Japan contemplates its future in the AI landscape, it is clear that the country cannot afford to miss out on the potential opportunities and advancements that come with embracing this technology. Whether Japan heeds Son’s call to action remains to be seen, but the stakes are high as the global AI revolution gains momentum.
