SoftBank's 75 Billion Euro Bet on AI in France: A Glimpse into the Industry's Future Directions

SoftBank Invests €75 Billion in AI Infrastructure in France

SoftBank Group Chief Executive Masayoshi Son has predicted that the artificial intelligence revolution could be "50 times bigger" than the dot-com boom of the late 1990s and early 2000s, describing AI as the most significant technological shift humanity has experienced.

Son made these remarks as SoftBank confirmed plans to invest up to €75 billion in AI infrastructure in France, marking the company's largest AI investment in Europe. Speaking in Paris, Son compared the current stage of AI development to the early days of the internet.

While the dot-com crash caused a temporary setback, the internet continued to reshape economies and societies for decades. Son argued that AI has the potential to generate an even greater transformation across industries, governments, and everyday life.

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The announcement follows SoftBank's commitment to develop up to five gigawatts of AI data centre capacity in France. The first phase will involve an investment of €45 billion to build 3.1 gigawatts of capacity in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031. Additional projects could raise the total investment to €75 billion.

The project will include major facilities in Dunkirk, Bosquel, and Bouchain and is intended to provide the computing power needed for advanced AI systems. SoftBank is working with partners including Schneider Electric and French energy giant EDF.

The investment was highlighted at the Choose France summit hosted by President Emmanuel Macron, who has sought to position France as a leading European hub for artificial intelligence. French officials have pointed to the country's strong nuclear-powered electricity network as a key advantage for energy-intensive AI data centres.

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Son also acknowledged that AI markets could experience corrections but said such periods should be viewed in the context of long-term technological progress. He maintained that AI remains at the beginning of a development cycle that could reshape the global economy in the same way the internet did over the past three decades.

The French project forms part of SoftBank's broader global AI strategy, which includes major investments in AI infrastructure and its growing involvement in projects linked to OpenAI.