Technology
Friday, June 21st, 2024 3:07 pm EDT
Key Points
- Prediction of Advanced AI: SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son predicts that artificial intelligence 10,000 times smarter than humans, termed artificial super intelligence (ASI), will emerge within the next ten years, significantly altering human lifestyles and interaction with technology.
- Strategic Shift to AI Investment: After substantial financial losses, SoftBank, under Son’s leadership, is shifting its investment strategy from defense to offense, focusing on opportunities in AI, despite past high-profile failures like WeWork.
- Personal and Corporate Mission: Son, reflecting on his life’s purpose, believes his mission is to advance humanity through AI, positioning the development of ASI as the ultimate goal for SoftBank and his personal legacy.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son predicts that artificial intelligence (AI) will surpass human intelligence by 10,000 times within a decade, envisioning a future with artificial super intelligence (ASI). Speaking at SoftBank’s annual general meeting of shareholders, Son outlined the progression from artificial general intelligence (AGI), which he expects to be one to ten times smarter than humans and to arrive within the next three to five years. While AGI would not significantly alter human lifestyles, ASI, he argued, would revolutionize them by introducing AI models interacting like neurons in the human brain, creating unprecedented advancements.
Following his speech, SoftBank’s shares fell over 3% in Japan. Son, who gained fame through a successful early investment in Alibaba and positioned SoftBank as a tech innovator with the launch of the Vision Fund in 2017, has experienced both significant successes and high-profile failures, notably with WeWork. After substantial losses in 2022 and 2023, Son shifted SoftBank’s strategy from a defensive to an offensive stance, driven by his enthusiasm for AI investment opportunities.
In his rare public appearance, Son also delved into personal and existential reflections, expressing a sense of unfulfilled purpose despite his achievements. He recounted a moment of emotional crisis two years prior, feeling that he had not accomplished anything of true significance. However, he now believes that SoftBank’s mission is tied to the “evolution of humanity” through ASI, asserting that his life’s purpose is to realize this vision. Son’s speech underscored his profound commitment to advancing AI, framing it as both a corporate and personal mission.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/21/softbank-ceo-predicts-ai-that-is-10000-times-smarter-than-humans-.html
