France attracts €93 billion in AI data‑center investments, led by SoftBank’s €75 billion pledge

At the "Choose France" summit, President Emmanuel Macron announced a record €93 billion in AI‑related data‑center investments by foreign firms, spread across 71 projects that are expected to create more than 15 600 jobs. The Japanese conglomerate SoftBank will contribute the largest share, committing €75 billion, of which €45 billion is earmarked for a 3‑5 GW capacity in the Hauts‑de‑France region by 2031. Other investors include an Emirati fund, MGX, and Canadian asset manager Brookfield, adding several billion euros more.

France’s abundant, low‑carbon electricity—derived largely from nuclear power—has been a key attraction, prompting Macron to repeat the slogan “Plug, baby, plug.” While the projects promise significant energy demand, they are also raising concerns about water consumption for cooling and limited job creation relative to the scale of investment.