SoftBank says it will invest up to €75bn in AI data centres in France

In short: SoftBank pledged up to €75bn to build what it says would be Europe’s biggest AI data centre project in France.

What happened

SoftBank, the Japanese investment group led by Masayoshi Son, said it plans to invest up to €75bn in a network of AI computing sites in France. These sites are large data centres, which are buildings packed with computers that run AI systems (like a giant server room).

SoftBank’s initial plan is to lead a €45bn investment to build 3.1 gigawatts of capacity in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031, with a further 2 gigawatts planned later. One major site in Dunkirk is expected to involve a partnership with Schneider Electric, focused on AI infrastructure and robotics manufacturing.

The Financial Times reported that the project took shape after French President Emmanuel Macron and Son had dinner in Tokyo in early April. France’s pitch included plentiful nuclear electricity and faster approvals for building AI facilities.

If the full build-out happens, the project would reach 5 gigawatts. That is roughly like the output of five nuclear power stations, or about New York City’s peak electricity demand (a way to picture how much power the computers would need).

Why it matters

AI systems need huge amounts of computing power, and those computers need a lot of electricity. Europe has been building fewer of these large facilities than the US, China, and parts of the Middle East. If SoftBank follows through, France could become a bigger place for AI work to happen, which can affect jobs, energy use, and where new digital services are built.

Source: Financial Times