Those who rule data will rule the entire world.
Masayoshi Son
It's a long journey. There will be good times, and there will be bad times, but SoftBank is always there.
People usually compare the computer to the head of the human being. I would say that hardware is the bone of the head, the skull. The semiconductor is the brain within the head. The software is the wisdom. And data is the knowledge.
Think big; think disruptive. Execute with full passion.
Uber is redefining the transportation industry now; Airbnb is doing it to the hotel industry. You can expect that to happen in every single industry.
It struck me deep in my mind. Some day, the chip is going to surpass mankind's brain.
Our aim is to develop affectionate robots that can make people smile.
My passion never fades out.
I have no intention of making small bets.
In tennis, you strike a ball just after the rebound for the fastest return. It's the same with investment.
A person's life is over in 50, 100 years. But a company lives on through the people it is composed of, and SoftBank group has to survive even after I'm gone.
The best opportunity for return on investment is in the information revolution.
If you live in the States, you see the windmill signal on your smartphone all the time. It's like living in Beijing air. You have to remember the blue sky.
Internet as a service is like culture that you have to understand, and each country has a local culture.
I believe this artificial intelligence is going to be our partner. If we misuse it, it will be a risk. If we use it right, it can be our partner.
I am not trying to chase what other people are doing.
I'm still committed to the success of the U.K. and the belief of the strong intelligence and passion and determination of the British people. I'm a strong believer of their long-term historical success.
Softbank 2.0 means globalisation of Softbank.
If they had listened to me and had equal partnerships in China, the U.K., Germany and Brazil, maybe Yahoo in those countries could have become positioned like Yahoo Japan.
My belief is that we should never become overconfident.
Yahoo was Jerry Yang's baby. He did a great job creating the baby. Unfortunately, some of the key executives after the foundation of the company couldn't keep up with the technology innovation of the industry. They thought that Yahoo should become a media company.
When I was a kid, our family was not that rich.
There will come an age when our average life expectancy will reach 200 years.
In the early stages of Internet in Japan, many said that Japanese and Americans are different. There are 10 reasons why Japanese Internet is not taking off. I said none of them are right; it's just a time lag. And, of course, Japanese Internet took off.
To many of you, Sprint may seem like a burden for SoftBank. But in my view, Sprint is going to be one of SoftBank's primary cash cows.
It would take enormous expertise for Amazon to win in every category. Do you think McDonald's could be number one in hamburgers, seafood, and Chinese food?
My philosophy is that the digital revolution will make mankind happier and more productive, and that won't change over the next 300 years. If you don't stick to that original philosophy, even perfect control of a bunch of companies isn't going to do you any good.
I try to look in the future and think backwards. That is when I am at my most comfortable. Because then I am just like the movie, 'Back to the Future.'
Indian software engineers are the best in the world; even in Silicon Valley, the best software engineers are Indians.
I believe the continually advancing Information Revolution will lend us the wisdom and strength to address humanity's previously unsolvable problems and help us make a positive impact on all of society.
Whenever there is a big difficulty, I don't make excuses. Instead, I say I will solve it even if everybody leaves.
Just believe in the future and direction of the capability that ARM has. Go deep and build a better future, both for the company and for its contribution to the industry. That's what I want ARM to do: invest more the future.
I am actually better at predicting or talking about 30 years later than three years.
Every street light will be interconnected to the Internet because we can save when car is not passing. Automobile will all be connected, so driverless car much safer.
My style is to have a big vision, a big commitment.
We only live once, so I want to think big.
Wisdom and knowledge are the most valuable things in the body.
SoftBank has had a lot of businesses, but they've always ranked, say, third in Japan or fourth in the U.S.
I'm the king of debt.
Traditional companies have to start looking into themselves to offer more opportunities in their companies by starting new subsidiaries and joint ventures.
Mankind had the agricultural revolution, the industrial revolution, and now this third one, the information revolution.
I think I became an entrepreneur because I have my way of doing business... to do that, you have to have your own company. But if you have your own company, you're an outsider in the Japanese business world. It's difficult. But that's life.
I don't like accidental success. It's what Bill Gates calls 'random,' a term he uses with the opposite of respect.
I am the largest shareholder in SoftBank; I share the same interest as the other shareholders.
Difficulty comes not only because of your mistakes, but once you try to make an excuse or accuse someone else, your mind stops thinking.
I use the iPhone and iPad every day, and I no longer touch PCs at all.
Just like I gave Jack Ma and Alibaba the luxury of staying private for longer, I am now giving Arm the gift of being private. My only message to them now is take my investment and let's go, go, go.
The autonomous car is definitely coming, and when that stage comes, this ride-share business becomes even more important.
There will come a time when the human race and super intelligence will coexist to create a richer and happier life.
I know I should not be a hindrance to SoftBank's future growth and that I need to pass on the baton to the younger generation.
