SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son has reportedly held discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron regarding a large-scale AI data center initiative in France.
According to the Bloomberg report, the project could involve a multibillion-dollar investment aimed at expanding France’s artificial intelligence infrastructure capabilities. While earlier discussions reportedly referenced potential investments of up to $100 billion, sources indicated the final amount may be lower depending on other capital commitments.
The proposal was initially raised by Macron during a meeting with Son in Tokyo, highlighting France’s efforts to attract major AI infrastructure investments and strengthen Europe’s position in the global AI race. An official announcement could reportedly come within weeks.
The discussions reflect intensifying competition among governments to secure AI infrastructure projects, particularly large-scale data centers that support model training and cloud computing. Europe has increasingly emphasized technological sovereignty and domestic AI capacity as reliance on foreign cloud providers grows.
For SoftBank, the potential investment would further expand its role in global AI infrastructure following a series of large-scale bets on semiconductors, data centers, and AI companies. The company has been actively positioning itself to benefit from rising demand for computing power and next-generation AI systems.
The project also signals how AI infrastructure is becoming a strategic geopolitical priority, with governments directly engaging technology investors to accelerate domestic capabilities and attract long-term capital into the sector.
The discussions come as SoftBank reportedly prepares a new AI and robotics venture focused on automating data center construction, targeting growing global demand for AI infrastructure and a potential $100 billion IPO.
