Son predicts fusion for AI power

SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son stated at the annual SoftBank World event in Tokyo that nuclear fusion will become the primary energy source for AI data centers within 15 years, predicting the world will need 3 terawatts of data center capacity by 2040. He argued that natural gas will serve as a bridge but fusion offers cheaper, clean, and safe energy. Son dismissed concerns about an AI bubble, asserting that AI infrastructure investments will pay off, and warned that Japan risks missing out on economic opportunities if it fails to embrace AI. The US Energy Department has set a goal for scaling up fusion technology in the mid-2030s, though Bloomberg L.P. notes significant technological and financial challenges remain.