SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son says there is little merit in building data centers in space, dismissing an idea championed by Elon Musk. In remarks to shareholders on 23 June 2026, Son argues that the AI race will be decided by computing resources located on Earth rather than in orbit. Bloomberg reports that Son’s view centers on the limited practical advantages of orbital facilities. The Japan Times adds that while one potential benefit of space data centers would be lower electricity costs, energy spending is only a small part of overall data center costs, reducing the incentive to move operations off Earth.
Other coverage echoes the same message, with Financial Post and The Next Web describing Son’s comments as an alternative “bet” to Musk’s approach. Business Line notes Son’s broader push for on-the-ground infrastructure, citing his commitment of about $65 billion to OpenAI and a pledge to direct hundreds of billions of dollars toward building data centers and related infrastructure worldwide.
