SoftBank Group is significantly expanding its artificial intelligence ambitions in Europe, announcing plans to invest up to €75 billion ($87 billion) in France to develop one of the continent's largest AI infrastructure projects.

The Japanese technology giant revealed that the investment will focus on building a network of large-scale data centers designed to support the growing demand for AI computing power. The project is expected to become SoftBank's biggest AI infrastructure investment in Europe to date.

As part of the initial phase, SoftBank plans to invest €45 billion over the next five years in the Hauts-de-France region. The company aims to deliver approximately 3.1 gigawatts of data center capacity through facilities located in Dunkirk (Loon-Plage), Bosquel, and Bouchain, with operations expected to begin by 2031.

Beyond the first phase, SoftBank intends to expand its footprint across additional locations in France, increasing total planned capacity to as much as 5 gigawatts and raising overall investment to €75 billion.

The initiative aligns with France's efforts to establish itself as a leading hub for artificial intelligence development and infrastructure. French officials have welcomed the announcement, describing it as a major boost to the country's ambitions of becoming a key player across the AI value chain.

A major factor behind SoftBank's decision appears to be France's energy advantage. Speaking about the investment, SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son highlighted the country's position as both an energy producer and exporter, describing reliable energy availability as a critical requirement for large-scale AI infrastructure projects.

Several major industry partners are expected to participate in the development. Schneider Electric will provide infrastructure and equipment solutions for the facilities, while state-owned energy company EDF is contributing by repurposing one of its former power plant sites into a future data center location.

The French expansion is part of SoftBank's broader global push into artificial intelligence. The company has already invested more than $30 billion in OpenAI, securing an estimated 11% stake in the AI company. SoftBank has also announced plans for a major data center project in Ohio, United States, supported by a new 9.2-gigawatt natural gas power plant.

As competition intensifies among technology firms to secure AI computing capacity, investments in data centers have surged worldwide. However, these projects have also sparked discussions around energy consumption, environmental impact, and pressure on power infrastructure.

Despite these concerns, SoftBank's latest commitment underscores the growing importance of AI-ready data centers as businesses and governments race to build the infrastructure required for the next generation of artificial intelligence technologies.