SoftBank Considering Major AI Investment in France

SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son is in talks over a major AI data center investment in France. Son is considering a multi-billion-dollar commitment in the country as part of SoftBank’s expanding AI infrastructure strategy.

While project details remain unconfirmed, two people said the executive had floated figures of up to $100 billion, though the eventual investment may be lower. French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly raised the idea during a recent meeting with Son in Tokyo. An announcement could materialize this month, potentially at the country’s annual Choose France business summit.

Macron has long pushed for sovereign AI infrastructure in Europe and promoted France as a favourable location for data centres due to its nuclear-powered electricity supply. The possible French undertaking adds to an already aggressive AI infrastructure push by SoftBank, as part of Son’s ambition to secure data center hubs globally.

In March, the company outlined plans for a large-scale Ohio data centre project worth around $500 billion to develop 10 gigawatts of AI capacity. In addition, the group is backing US President Donald Trump’s $500 billion Stargate initiative alongside OpenAI, Oracle, and Abu Dhabi investment firm MGX to deploy AI infrastructure across the US.

Earlier this year, SoftBank also secured a $40 billion bridge loan to support its larger stake in OpenAI after investing an additional $30 billion in the company. Last week, the group had cut the target for a separate $10 billion margin loan backed by its OpenAI stake to $6 billion following lender concerns.