SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son presented a talk during the company's annual shareholder meeting, revealing his fundamental belief in the revolutionary power of artificial intelligence (AI).
Son, who has long been a dominant figure in the tech and venture capital space, expressed his emotional connection to technology and his desire to shape the future of humanity through AI advancements.
SoftBank CEO Shares Awe-Inspiring AI Talk
Reflecting on his career and past mistakes, Son candidly admitted to a period of deep introspection, during which he grappled with a sense of unfulfillment.
"There were times when I felt a real emptiness," he confessed. "I had a big cry. The tears didn't stop for days."
"However, from this existential crisis emerged a newfound clarity and determination to become an architect of the future," Financial Times quotes the CEO at the investor event.
At the heart of Son's ambitious vision lies his interaction with ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot developed by OpenAI. As Fortune reports, he described ChatGPT as one of his top advisors, with whom he engages daily in the process of ideation and feedback.
Son, who Reuters says is a 'heavy' user of the popular AI chatbot, passionately shared his experience of pitching ideas to ChatGPT, iterating back and forth until he received the AI's validation.
'Birth of Superman'
During the shareholders' meeting, Son unveiled striking visuals depicting the evolution of mankind.
While the graph of human progress remained relatively flat from the agricultural to the industrial revolution, it exhibited a mere centimeter of growth up until now.
However, Son projected a future where the line steeply ascends, propelled by the "Birth of Superhuman" facilitated by AI technology. This ascent signifies AI's immense potential to solve problems that have thus far eluded human capabilities.
Underscoring the significance of AI, Son emphasized its capacity to revolutionize various aspects of society.
He presented a slide titled "Society without stoppage from natural disasters," illustrating a city illuminated by interconnected AI-powered systems, promising a world where the impact of natural calamities can be mitigated.
Son's conviction in the power of AI to make resources more accessible was palpable, as he envisioned AI-powered robots replacing humans in numerous tasks, leading to advancements in areas such as food production and housing.
AI to Propel SoftBank's Future
Despite SoftBank's recent financial challenges, including a net loss of nearly $7 billion this fiscal year, Son believes that AI will propel the company's future success.
The Japanese investment holding company has sold its shares in Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, bolstering its cash reserves to a substantial $35 billion.
Son intends to redirect the company's focus towards offensive strategies, investing more in technology and developing new AI technologies.
Insider tells us that critics have scrutinized SoftBank's investment track record, particularly its involvement with companies like WeWork and Wag.
However, the Vision Fund has also experienced notable wins, including investments in TikTok owner ByteDance and food delivery platform DoorDash.
Additionally, SoftBank's majority stake in UK chip designer Arm positions the company at the forefront of AI chipset design, further bolstering Son's optimism for the future.
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