EL7.AI
Stocks•15 July 2026•
1 min read

SoftBank's Son Predicts AI to Drive 20% of Global GDP by 2040

Key Facts

1SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son predicted AI will replace roughly 20% of global GDP by 2040.
2Son dismissed AI bubble fears as 'foolish,' forecasting an annual investment boom of $5 trillion.

Amid a global race for future technological dominance, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son has issued bold projections regarding the economic trajectory of artificial intelligence. According to reports, Son predicts that AI will replace roughly 20% of global GDP by the year 2040. He further dismissed current market anxieties regarding an AI bubble as "foolish," arguing that the scale of future utility justifies the massive capital expenditure currently seen in the sector.

These remarks come as big tech firms continue to pour billions into computing infrastructure, with Son forecasting an annual investment boom reaching $5 trillion. In comparison to peers, Nvidia recently reported explosive growth in data center revenue, supporting Son's vision that demand for AI-specific hardware is only beginning per market data. SoftBank’s recent strategic pivots, including the IPO of Arm, underscore the group's commitment to the 'Artificial Super Intelligence' (ASI) era.

Regarding market performance, SoftBank (9984.T) stood at 6360 JPY at close 2026-07-15, while the SFTBY ADR traded at $19.15 on 2026-07-14. Investors remain focused on upcoming Vision Fund investment updates, particularly as the tech sector reacts to broader macroeconomic growth data and global interest rate sentiments.