France attracts €75 bn SoftBank AI investment as economy slips

Japanese conglomerate SoftBank Group announced a €75 billion investment in France to develop about 5 GW of AI data‑centre capacity. The plan relies on France’s abundant nuclear electricity, which supplies more than 65 % of the country’s power, and aligns with President Emmanuel Macron’s policy of extending the life of existing reactors and building new ones.

In the first quarter of 2026, French gross domestic product fell 0.1 %, marking the first contraction since the 2020 crisis. Export volumes dropped 3.5 %, construction activity fell 1.7 %, household consumption decreased 0.2 % and corporate investment slipped 0.4 %. The slowdown is linked to higher oil prices triggered by the Iran‑Hormuz conflict, despite France’s nuclear‑energy advantage, and has increased pressure on the government and rating agencies.