France announces over €110bn in AI and data center investment plans

In short: France has announced more than €110bn in proposed investments for AI and data centers, but turning plans into real buildings may take years.

What happened

France said it secured over €110bn in proposed investment tied to AI and data centers during President Emmanuel Macron’s Choose France summit.

A data center is a large building full of computers that store data and run online services, like a power station for the internet. The planned projects add up to about 10 gigawatts of computing capacity, which the Financial Times compared to the output of around 10 nuclear reactors. France currently has about 1.5 gigawatts of installed data center capacity, according to Schneider Electric.

Some of the biggest names involved include Japan’s SoftBank, which pledged €75bn, plus Brookfield, Ardian, MGX, and Salesforce. SoftBank aims for an initial €45bn phase across three sites to be operating by 2031, but the article notes there are questions about whether the full €75bn will be deployed.

Why it matters

These projects test whether France can build the basic pieces needed for AI, especially fast approvals and reliable access to electricity. Investors and developers warn that permits, grid connections, and local objections can delay projects for years, sometimes close to a decade.

To speed things up, the government, EDF (the state-owned power utility), and grid operator RTE are promoting “fast-track” sites on former industrial land that already has strong power connections. France has also passed a new law meant to simplify authorizations and reduce legal delays. Some investors say progress also depends on hands-on support from Macron’s office, an approach nicknamed the “Notre-Dame method,” but Macron is due to leave office in 2027.

Source: Financial Times