Masayoshi Son, the founder and CEO of the investment conglomerate Softbank, has expressed his belief that artificial intelligence (AI) will surpass human intelligence by a significant margin in the near future. During the annual meeting of Softbank in Tokyo on June 21, Son delivered an impassioned speech to the company’s employees, emphasizing the company’s commitment to the development of “artificial super intelligence” (ASI) that has the potential to revolutionize human existence.
Son’s remarks centered on the distinction between artificial general intelligence (AGI) and ASI. He explained that while AGI would possess intelligence equivalent to that of a human “genius,” an ASI would be 10,000 times more intelligent and capable than a human being, far surpassing the limitations of the human brain.
It is important to note that the concept of AGI and ASI is still largely theoretical, with no scientific consensus on the extent of their capabilities or whether such entities can be achieved with current technology. Despite this, Son’s comments had a noticeable impact on the stock market, as Softbank’s shares experienced a decline of over 3% following the meeting’s conclusion on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
In a video of the event, Son also reflected on his own mortality and the realization that he was “getting old,” expressing a desire to achieve more in his life before it comes to an end. This introspective moment may have contributed to the unease of some investors. Additionally, it was noted that Apple has decided to withhold the release of certain AI features in the EU due to Digital Markets rules.