AI revolution is '50x bigger' than the dotcom boom: SoftBank's Masayoshi Son to CNBC

Masayoshi Son, the CEO of SoftBank, has made a bold statement regarding the scale of the current AI revolution, claiming it is 50 times more significant than the Dotcom boom of the early 2000s. In an interview with CNBC, Son emphasized the transformative potential of AI, suggesting that the ongoing advancements are not just a continuation of past trends but a monumental leap forward. During his remarks in Paris, following the announcement of a substantial investment in AI infrastructure, Son stated, "I think this is like more than 10x, probably 50x bigger than dotcom." SoftBank has pledged to invest 75 billion euros (approximately $87 billion) to enhance AI capabilities in France, which includes plans for 5 gigawatts of AI data center capacity. Son compared the current technological landscape to the Dotcom bubble of the late 1990s, noting that while that era experienced a significant downturn, it laid the groundwork for future growth. "Even dotcom there was a bubble and burst, but then right after that, the peak of the dotcom bubble, the year 2000, was not really a peak. It was like a small hill. It went down, but then it went much, much bigger," he explained. This investment marks SoftBank's most significant commitment to AI infrastructure in Europe, with plans to establish 3.1 gigawatts of data centers in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031, including locations in Dunkirk, Bosquel, and Bouchain. Son expressed confidence in France's potential to become a central hub for AI technology in Europe, stating, "We are doing that in the U.S. already, we are expanding a lot in the U.S., so we have the momentum, which we can make France the center of Europe, and Europe needs this kind of AI technology." In collaboration with French engineering firm Schneider Electric, SoftBank aims to create a large-scale industrial production facility in Dunkirk, further solidifying its commitment to advancing AI infrastructure in the region. This investment heralds a new era of technological evolution, with the potential to reshape industries and economies across the continent.