Scaling European High-Performance Computing
SoftBank Pledges €75B for French AI Infrastructure
CEO Masayoshi Son announces plans for five gigawatts of data center capacity at the Choose France summit.
A modern architectural rendering of a large-scale AI data center in the French countryside, representing SoftBank's investment.
Photo: Avantgarde News
SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son announced a €75 billion investment in French artificial intelligence infrastructure [1][3]. This commitment occurred during the Choose France summit on May 31, 2026 [1]. The plan includes developing five gigawatts of AI data center capacity throughout France [1][2].
The new infrastructure aims to support high-performance computing for research, industry, and academia [1]. SoftBank seeks to expand European AI capabilities through these data centers [3]. This investment follows SoftBank’s strategic interest in other major AI companies [2].
France continues to position itself as a central hub for European technology [1]. Officials expect the project to improve digital sovereignty and create specialized technical roles in the region [2].
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Sources
- 1.↗
japantimes.co.jp
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/05/31/companies/softbank-ai-data-center-investment-france/
- 2.↗
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/after-openai-softbank-plans-investment-in-french-ai-centers/articleshow/131419001.cms
- 3.↗
techinasia.com
https://www.techinasia.com/news/softbank-plans-874b-ai-france/amp/
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Avantgarde News Desk covers scaling european high-performance computing and editorial analysis for Avantgarde News.