Archive · 5 Oct 2026
SoftBank Chief Warns Superintelligence Could Become Extremely Dangerous
Masayoshi Son believes artificial intelligence is becoming more capable very quickly.
He also worries that powerful AI could be dangerous if it is used by the wrong people.
Son says countries should work together to help keep AI under control.
Michael Kratsios announced a group of 17 countries that wants to use AI to speed up scientific research.
He said AI and robots could help run many experiments and examine research quickly.
Son expects AI and learning machines to make up at least one-fifth of the world’s economy by 2040.
He said that would be worth about $46 trillion.
He also said AI is only at the beginning of its development.
Masayoshi Son said rapidly advancing AI brings safety risks and that superintelligence in the wrong hands could be “super dangerous.”
Son called on countries to build trust and cooperate to manage powerful AI systems.
Michael Kratsios announced a US-led initiative involving 17 countries to use AI to accelerate scientific research.
Kratsios described AI-assisted laboratories and digital agents as tools that could speed up experiments and research.
Son said AI and learning machines could account for at least 20% of global GDP by 2040, equivalent to $46 trillion.
- Who
- Masayoshi Son and Michael Kratsios, alongside representatives of countries participating in the AI research initiative.
- What
- Son warned about AI safety risks as Kratsios announced a 17-country push to use AI in scientific research.
- When
- Sunday, at an event held alongside the Science and Technology in Society forum.
- Where
- Kyoto, Japan.
- Why
- Son said countries need to cooperate to harness AI and control risks from increasingly powerful systems; the initiative aims to use AI to accelerate scientific research.
- SoftBank chief
- Masayoshi Son
- US representative
- Michael Kratsios, White House science and technology policy advisor
- Research initiative
- A US-led push involving 17 countries to use AI to accelerate scientific research
- Countries named
- Japan, South Korea, the UK, Germany, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates
- Son's GDP projection
- AI and learning machines could account for at least 20% of global GDP by 2040
- Projected value
- $46 trillion by 2040, according to Son
- Physical-world AI
- Son said AI services could begin helping robots interact with the physical world starting next year