After OpenAI, SoftBank plans investment in French AI centers

Japanese tech giant SoftBank Group has announced a massive plan to invest up to €75 billion (approx $87 billion) to build artificial intelligence (AI) data centres in France. The move highlights France's growing reputation as Europe’s top destination for next-generation tech infrastructure.. The announcement follows SoftBank’s recent major financial commitments in the US, including a massive 13% stake in ChatGPT-maker OpenAI.

According to a company statement released Saturday, SoftBank’s European project will roll out in phases to eventually deliver 5 gigawatts of computing power. In the first phase, SoftBank will invest an initial €45 billion to build 3.1 gigawatts of data centre capacity in the Hauts-de-France region, with a target completion date of 2031. The first centers will be built in the French towns of Dunkirk, Bosquel and Bouchain, with more sites planned across the country later.

"The commitment marks SoftBank Group’s largest AI infrastructure investments in Europe. It is designed to support the rapid growth of artificial intelligence by expanding access to high-performance compute capacity in France," the company said.

Notably, French industrial giant Schneider Electric SE has already signed on as a partner for the Dunkirk site. The goal is to build a hub for AI and robotics manufacturing that can easily serve major tech markets in nearby London, Brussels, and Amsterdam.

SoftBank’s global AI ambitions

The French expansion is part of a global spending spree by Masayoshi Son to secure the massive computing power needed to fuel the AI boom. SoftBank's current portfolio includes the Stargate Initiative, which is a $500 billion project in the US built in partnership with OpenAI, Oracle, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX. There is also an Ohio Project, a separate $500 billion data centre complex in Ohio aiming for 10 gigawatts of capacity powered by natural gas, followed by more than $60 billion investment directly into OpenAI.

By building its own data centres in Europe, SoftBank hopes to diversify its AI revenue streams beyond its standard partnerships with ChatGPT.