Japanese investor SoftBank plans to invest 75 billion euros, or $87.5 billion, in artificial intelligence facilities in France, founder Masayoshi Son said in an interview published Saturday. The project would represent the largest European spending on AI-related infrastructure, he told La Tribune Dimanche before a French investment summit hosted by President Emmanuel Macron. The total includes 45 billion euros for data centers in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031. French industrial firm Schneider Electric will partner on the project, its chief executive said, calling it the largest such initiative ever in France. Current national data center capacity stands at about 1.5 gigawatts and is expected to rise first to 3.0 gigawatts and later potentially to 5.0 gigawatts. The move supports Macron’s drive to draw technology industries to France ahead of an international investment conference at Versailles. Son cited France’s position as an energy exporter and his April meeting with Macron as key factors. Schneider will design equipment and build a factory near Dunkirk, with the first centers located at Dunkirk, Cambrai and Amiens. France has identified 35 sites suitable for data centers. Son noted the challenge of matching U.S. innovation leadership while seeking balance between progress and regulation.
