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The Japan Times
Masayoshi Son dismisses Musk’s idea for orbital data centers
Masayoshi Son, the founder of SoftBank, expressed skepticism about the feasibility of Elon Musk's proposal for orbital data centers. He highlighted that the primary cost-saving advantage of such centers—lower electricity costs—pales in comparison to the expenses involved in hardware and transport to space. Son stated that the focus should remain on enhancing data center capacity on Earth, especially given the urgent requirements of the AI sector. Despite acknowledging increasing competition in AI, he believes there is significant potential for growth among leading companies like OpenAI and others.
MonitorConfidence: HighMid term horizon
Published 23 Jun 2026, 07:45 UTC2 min read
Visit original article ↗Lead image — The Japan Times
Summary
TL;DR
- Son rejects Musk's idea for orbital data centers at a SoftBank meeting.
- He argues that Earth-based computing is crucial for winning the AI race.
- SoftBank has committed $65 billion to OpenAI and infrastructure.
- Son emphasizes the need for building formidable terrestrial data center capacity.
- Demand for computing power is growing with established companies exploring space-based solutions.
Interesting facts
- Son considers transportation and maintenance costs as prohibitive for orbital data centers.
- He predicts significant growth opportunities in AI despite intensifying competition.