SoftBank CEO Calls AI Boom 50 Times Larger Than Dot-Com Era

Masayoshi Son, the billionaire founder of SoftBank, is making a bold prediction: the artificial intelligence boom will dwarf the dot-com revolution by a factor of 50. In an interview with CNBC on Monday, Son said the current AI surge is "the biggest revolution of technology and realization that mankind ever experienced." He compared it to the early days of the internet, arguing the dot-com crash was just a minor setback in a much larger growth story.

Son’s comments came a day after SoftBank announced a massive $87 billion investment in AI infrastructure across France, including 5 gigawatts of data center capacity. The plan calls for building 3.1 GW of AI data centers in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031, with locations in Dunkirk, Bosquel, and Bouchain. SoftBank is partnering with French engineering firm Schneider Electric to establish a large-scale industrial hub in Dunkirk.

When asked about the risk of a market downturn, Son referenced the 1929 Wall Street crash, noting that technology sectors like electronics and motorization eventually recovered and grew for decades. "There may be some correction, but that will be the best investment opportunity to me," he said.

Son also stressed the urgency for Europe to adopt AI technology, saying SoftBank’s momentum in the U.S. can be replicated in France, making it a European AI hub. The investment is SoftBank’s largest AI infrastructure commitment in Europe to date.