KYOTO, JAPAN – Masayoshi Son, the chief executive of SoftBank Group Corp., a major investor in artificial intelligence, has issued a stark warning regarding the potential dangers of advanced AI systems. Speaking on October 4 at an event alongside the Science and Technology in Society forum in Kyoto, Son emphasized the urgent need for global trust and cooperation to manage the exponential growth in AI capabilities.
Son called on governments worldwide to collaborate on regulating AI technology and implementing essential safeguards. He highlighted the increasing concerns around AI safety, particularly following recent security breaches involving AI models. “We don’t have any more luxury of having human fight against human,” Son stated, arguing that nations must unite to address the far greater threat posed by powerful AI. He unequivocally declared that superintelligence in the wrong hands could turn “super dangerous.”
The Call for Global AI Regulation
His remarks underscore a growing chorus of voices advocating for a coordinated approach to AI governance. Son, whose SoftBank has committed approximately $65 billion to OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has long championed AI for its potential investment returns and broader benefits to humanity. However, his recent comments reflect a heightened awareness of its inherent risks.
Appearing alongside Son, White House science and technology policy adviser Michael Kratsios discussed AI's applications in research. Kratsios envisioned robotic systems in automated cloud laboratories conducting hundreds of parallel experiments, generating data for real-time analysis and hypothesis refinement.
AI's Economic Impact and Future Expansion
Despite his warnings, Son remains optimistic about AI's transformative potential. He predicted an exponential expansion of AI services, from browsing websites to writing code, driven by increasing demands for general-purpose chips. Son anticipates the next phase for these programs will commence next year, enabling AI systems to facilitate robots and other machines in interacting with the physical world. “This is just the beginning,” he remarked.
Son also reiterated his long-term forecast that AI and machines with learning capabilities will contribute significantly to the global economy. He projected that by 2040, these technologies could account for at least 20 percent of global gross domestic product, translating to an estimated $46 trillion.