SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son has announced a shift toward full automation, aiming to replace human jobs and human programmers with intelligent AI agents as part of a bold vision for the future of work. The era when humans program is nearing its end within our group, said Son, as reported by Light Reading. Our goal is for AI agents to completely take over automation in software development and lead the way in AI-driven operations and we are now beginning that transition.
Here are four key points from the article:
- SoftBank plans to replace human programmers with AI agents, aiming for full automation.
- Masayoshi Son estimates 1,000 AI agents are needed to replace one employee.
- The company aims to deploy one billion AI agents by 2025, expanding beyond programming.
- AI agents will work 24/7, cutting costs and transforming the future of work.
Table of contents
SoftBank AI Agents Replacing Human Jobs: 1,000-to-1 Ratio
According to Son, the complexity of human reasoning means that it would take about 1,000 AI agents to match the work of a single employee. Despite this high ratio, the benefits in efficiency, cost, and scalability are substantial. These AI agents will run 24/7, handling tasks from basic automation to managing complex operations and interacting with other AI systems. Son envisions AI agents working for each other, automating tasks, making decisions across all company levels, and ultimately being deployed to replace human jobs at scale.
First Billion AI Agents by 2025
SoftBank aims to deploy one billion AI agents by 2025 as a key step toward AI-driven operations. Though no timeline was given, Son envisions trillions of AI agents eventually replacing many traditional jobs beyond software development. He emphasized the cost-effectiveness of this approach. At only €230 a month for 1,000 agents, replacing a human worker is far cheaper than a typical salary.
Overcoming Challenges in SoftBank AI Agents Replacing Human Jobs
When addressing concerns about the limitations of current AI systems such as hallucinations or inaccuracies Son dismissed them as minor and short-term issues. He believes these flaws will be quickly resolved as technology evolves.
Son acknowledged SoftBank still needs platforms, software, and data centers to support and scale its AI systems. Significant investment in energy production and computing capacity will be necessary to sustain such a system.
A Future Driven by Artificial General Intelligence
Son’s ambitious roadmap is rooted in his belief that artificial general intelligence (AGI) is fast approaching. He sees SoftBank as a global pioneer in embracing this shift and redesigning corporate structures around a non-human workforce. The company’s long-term vision positions AI not as a support tool, but as a complete replacement for human labor in key areas, including automation in software development. If realized, this could be a historic work transformation with SoftBank leading the way.
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