SoftBank Boss Predicts 1 Billion Humanoid Robots by 2040

Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp., Masayoshi Son. Photo: Wikipedia.

JAKARTA - Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp., Masayoshi Son, estimates that 1 billion artificial intelligence-based humanoid robots will be created by 2040. The robot, which has a human-like shape and movement, is said to fundamentally change the work environment.

Kyodo News reported on Tuesday, July 14, that Masayoshi Son delivered the projection at the company's annual conference in Tokyo on Tuesday.

"The era when humans become the most superior beings will end," Son said.

He also predicted that 100 trillion AI agents will work in the same year. AI agents are artificial intelligence systems that can carry out tasks independently without waiting for human orders.

According to Son, AI agents will be able to double themselves, help other agents grow, and generate more new agents. This change is considered to shift a human-centric society into an AI-centric society.

"Human beings need to evolve with them, not reject AI agents," he said.

Son projects the AI-related industry will account for about 20 percent of global gross domestic product by 2040. Its value is estimated at 7 quadrillion yen or about 43 trillion US dollars.

This development also requires a very large amount of electricity supply. According to Son's calculations, AI data centers will require about 3 terawatt of electricity by 2040.

That amount is equivalent to about 1.8 times the current global electricity consumption. This need is expected to arise when AI agents become the main driver of the economy.

After 2040, Son estimates that around 1 terawatt of additional electricity will be needed each year.

He also projected that the development of AI infrastructure requires an investment of US$5 trillion per year.

SoftBank in recent years has focused its investments on AI-related businesses, including semiconductors, robotics, and data centers.[14/7, 21.45] Iqbal Also: Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp., Masayoshi Son. Photo: Wikipedia.