Commitment to ARM Partners:

Masayoshi Son assures ARM partners that after the acquisition by SoftBank, ARM’s basic business model will remain unchanged. He stresses his commitment to neutrality and providing a reliable platform for all stakeholders involved.

Psychological Exercise:

Son asks the audience to participate in a brief exercise of closing and then opening their eyes. He uses this to make a point about perception and the impact of having a different viewpoint.

The Importance of Perspective:

Masayoshi Son asks the audience a trivia question about the first species on Earth to have eyes, to which he reveals the answer as the trilobite. He links this to the idea that perspective and perception can entirely change one’s understanding and interaction with the world.

Preparation for Presentation:

The segment ends with Son indicating that he’s about to begin his main presentation. Given his preceding remarks, it can be inferred that the main talk will likely delve into subjects such as perspective, change, and possibly the vision for ARM under SoftBank.

Through this segment, Masayoshi Son aims to both reassure ARM partners and to engage his audience on the concept of perception and its importance in business and life.

Cambrian Explosion and Evolution of Species:

Masayoshi Son discusses the Cambrian explosion, a significant event in Earth’s history where a large number of species suddenly appeared. He emphasizes the importance of this event as a crucial point in the history of life on Earth. The trilobite, the first species to develop eyes, played a revolutionary role, giving it advantages like chasing prey and escaping danger.

Importance of Sensing Capabilities:

Son delves into the fundamental role of sensory capabilities, like eyesight, smell, and hearing, in the evolutionary cycle. These senses enable creatures to perceive their environment, triggering processes like recognition, learning, and inference, leading to action.

Parallels between Evolution and Technology:

Drawing a parallel with the Cambrian explosion, Son introduces the concept of an “IoT explosion.” He suggests that the principles that drive biological evolution—sensing, learning, and acting—are the same as those behind the development and implementation of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. The cycle of sensing, deep learning, and actuation in IoT mirrors the evolutionary process.

Shift from PC to Mobile to IoT:

Son argues that the technological landscape is rapidly evolving. The “center of gravity” has shifted from PCs to mobile devices, and he predicts the next shift will be towards IoT. This, he believes, answers questions regarding SoftBank’s acquisition of ARM and why now is the time for this strategic move.

Future Outlook and Business Strategy:

Son provides statistics to back his claims, mentioning that the number of IoT chips and devices will soon surpass those in mobile. He projects that within the next 20 years, we will see the emergence of 1 trillion IoT devices, characterizing this anticipated proliferation as another Cambrian explosion. This is the core rationale behind SoftBank’s strategic focus and investments.

In summary, Masayoshi Son frames the importance of sensing in evolutionary history to argue for a coming explosion in IoT technologies. He uses this narrative to provide context for SoftBank’s strategic moves, including its acquisition of ARM.

IoT and Data Explosion:

Masayoshi Son discusses the tremendous growth in the Internet of Things (IoT). He notes that the total traffic of IoT devices has grown significantly, and the number of devices has exploded. These devices convert physical phenomena like temperature, smell, and images into data. All this data is aggregated into big data clouds, changing the center of gravity of communications.

Importance of Chips:

Chips are central to this data-driven world, serving as the converting mechanism that transforms real-world experiences into data. These chips are the building blocks for creating the massive volumes of data that IoT relies on.

Analytics and Deep Learning:

The aggregation of data in this scale allows for robust analytics. Deep learning algorithms make use of this data to provide intelligence, thereby making systems super smart. This smartness extends into fields like speech and visual recognition, surpassing human abilities in some cases.

Security Concerns:

Son emphasizes that with the growth of connected devices, security becomes increasingly crucial. Examples of lack of encryption in connected cars underline the risks. Cybersecurity measures are now more critical than enhancing performance attributes like clock speed or memory size.

Futuristic View:

Artificial intelligence and deep learning will be integrated further into IoT, enabling smarter decision-making and efficiency. However, this raises ethical and safety concerns, including the potential for catastrophic events like mass car crashes due to hacking.

Adapt or Perish:

Technology will continue to evolve regardless of whether society is prepared for it. Adopting and integrating new technology is essential for survival in this rapidly evolving landscape. The goal is to use technology to improve human life, save lives, and increase happiness.

Overall, Masayoshi Son presents a vision of a future where IoT, powered by chips and optimized by analytics and deep learning, will reshape society. But this comes with a stark warning about the vital importance of security in a world increasingly connected and data-driven.

Collaborative Effort for Revolution:

Masayoshi Son emphasizes that the upcoming revolution in technology cannot be accomplished by a single individual or company. He believes it will require a collective effort from mankind to create a happier future.

Role of ARM and Partnerships:

ARM, as a standalone company, cannot make this happen alone. The ARM core serves as the foundation that will be integrated with functionalities like memory, modems, and graphic enhancements. This level of integration will only be achieved through collaboration with partners who will help create system-on-chip solutions.

Beginning Stages of Connected Devices:

Speakers point out that the world is at the early stages of realizing the benefits of connected devices. Cars are increasingly becoming connected, but most aren’t yet. The speaker argues that the “killer application” will not come from one single company, but from an ecosystem of various firms working together.

Post-Acquisition Plans:

Six weeks after ARM’s acquisition by SoftBank, the primary focus is on laying out strategies to deliver on their collective vision. They plan to make long-term investments to accelerate their roadmap, aiming for more rapid innovation.

Management Philosophy:

Masayoshi Son states that he does not intend to micromanage. He trusts his captains to manage the ships (companies) he owns. His interest lies in discussing long-term strategies rather than focusing on short-term quarter-to-quarter performance.

Innovation in China:

China serves as an interesting backdrop for tech innovation, especially in the IoT (Internet of Things) domain. Whether it’s smart cities or new transportation models, there is a lot of experimentation happening. ARM is investing there to stimulate innovation further, including launching accelerators and setting up an investment fund with a local PE firm.

The overall theme is the necessity of collaborative effort across companies and nations to realize the collective vision of a connected and technologically advanced future.

Human’s Future Role:

Masayoshi Son argues that despite advancements in AI and the advent of the singularity, the essence of being human should remain unchanged. Humans will continue to value family, friends, love, and social connection. In this context, technology serves as an aid to resolve problems more efficiently and improve our lives.

Vision Fund & Technological Transformation:

Masayoshi Son mentions a recently announced Vision Fund, indicating it’s designed to capitalize on the forthcoming explosion in IoT and singularity. He foresees transformations across various sectors like media, commerce, transportation, finance, and healthcare. While $100 billion may not be enough to capture all opportunities, it’s a significant starting point.

Technology’s Impact on Quality of Life:

The ultimate aim of technological progress, including singularity, is to improve the quality of life, according to a third speaker. These advancements have historically improved life expectancy and quality, and there’s no reason to expect any different in the future.

Upcoming at TechCon:

Finally, the conversation closes with a nod to the upcoming TechCon event, where new products and strong technical papers will be presented. The expectation is that these will give a glimpse into how technology is evolving to improve human life.