The Dawning of an AI-Dominated Era: A Vision for 2040

At the recent SoftBank World conference, Masayoshi Son, Founder and CEO of SoftBank Group, presented a transformative forecast for the coming decades. He argues that artificial intelligence will evolve far beyond current applications, fundamentally restructuring the global economy and society within the next fifteen years.

100 Trillion Agents: A Fundamental Shift in Societal Operation

Son's central prediction is that by 2040, the number of active AI agents will reach a staggering 100 trillion. This proliferation means intelligent agents will vastly outnumber humans and become embedded in every facet of daily life.

“When 100 trillion AI agents interconnect and collaborate, the center of society will shift from humans to agents,” Son stated. He characterized this not as a mere tool upgrade, but a paradigm shift. Consequently, he expects the AI industry itself to become “the largest industry in human history,” contributing approximately 20% of global GDP.

1 Billion Robots: Redefining the Workforce

Parallel to the explosion of software agents is the rise of physical embodiment—humanoid robots. Son predicts 1 billion such robots will be operational by 2040.

  • Exponential Efficiency: Capable of operating 24/7, these robots are projected to perform tasks faster, with greater precision and attention to detail than humans.
  • Labor Transformation: Son estimates the collective workload of these 1 billion robots would equate to 3 billion human workers, positioning them as the core force in future manufacturing, services, and complex decision-making fields.

The Cost of Ambition: Energy and Capital

Realizing this vision comes with significant challenges. Son highlighted the immense energy demands driven by exponentially growing AI computational needs.

The massive expansion of data centers is a foundational requirement. He anticipates global electricity consumption will double by 2040, necessitating annual investments of around $5 trillion (approximately ¥800 trillion) in related infrastructure. This underscores the severe energy and resource constraints that underpin AI's projected growth.

Strategic Focus: The Core Battleground

On business strategy, Son presented a clear global perspective. He views the AI revolution as inherently global, not confined to Japan.

“We must concentrate our resources on the core battleground—the United States,” he stated. This clarifies SoftBank's strategic priority in the global AI race and signals an intense future concentration of technology and capital around key regions.