SoftBank vows to spend $87.5 billion on AI centers in France

Japanese tech investor SoftBank will allocate 75 billion euros (approximately $87.5 billion) to develop artificial intelligence infrastructure in France, its founder Masayoshi Son confirmed in an interview with *La Tribune Dimanche*. The announcement comes ahead of a French investment conference hosted by President Emmanuel Macron at Versailles Palace, starting Monday. Son stated the investment includes 45 billion euros for data centers in northern France’s Hauts-de-France region by 2031. The project will partner with French electrical firm Schneider Electric, which will design and supply equipment, including a new factory at Dunkirk port. The first three data centers will be built in Dunkirk, Cambrai, and near Amiens. France currently has about 1.5 gigawatts of data center capacity, but the new initiative will expand this to 3.0 gigawatts in the first phase and potentially 5.0 gigawatts later. Schneider Electric CEO Olivier Blum called it the largest project of its kind in France, emphasizing its significance for the country’s tech sector. Son cited France’s status as an energy exporter as a key factor in his decision, noting data centers require substantial power. He also praised Macron’s commitment to economic growth, despite SoftBank’s prior focus on U.S. and Asian investments. The move aligns with Macron’s goal of positioning Europe as a leader in AI, competing with the U.S. and China. Son acknowledged the challenge of catching up with U.S. innovation but stressed Europe’s need to balance regulation with progress. France has identified 35 sites ready to support data center infrastructure, reinforcing its ambition to avoid falling behind in the global AI race.