--- title: "SoftBank Group Corp. Bets $87 Billion on European AI; Masayoshi Son: This Revolution Is 50 Times Larger Than the Internet Era!" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/288282440.md" description: "SoftBank Group Corp. CEO Masayoshi Son announced a €75 billion investment in France to build AI infrastructure, stating that the scale of the AI revolution is 50 times that of the internet era. The plan involves constructing 3.1 gigawatts of data centers in northern France by 2031, primarily relying on project financing. SoftBank Group Corp.'s stock surged 14% following the announcement" datetime: "2026-06-01T13:23:57.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/288282440.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/288282440.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/288282440.md) --- # SoftBank Group Corp. Bets $87 Billion on European AI; Masayoshi Son: This Revolution Is 50 Times Larger Than the Internet Era! SoftBank Group Corp. CEO Masayoshi Son has once again demonstrated his firm commitment to artificial intelligence with a stunning move. The Japanese tech investment giant announced a €75 billion (approximately $87 billion) investment in France to build AI infrastructure, asserting that the current AI revolution is 50 times the scale of the Dotcom Bubble era and will become the greatest technological transformation in human history. According to CNBC, Son stated in an interview in Paris on Monday, "I think this is 10 times bigger than the internet era, possibly even 50 times." This remark came the day after SoftBank Group Corp. announced its investment plan in France, which aims to build a total of 5 gigawatts of AI data center capacity in northern France, marking SoftBank Group Corp.'s largest AI infrastructure investment in Europe to date. Following the announcement, SoftBank Group Corp.'s shares listed in Tokyo closed up 14% for the day. Son also predicted potential market volatility in the AI sector, noting that short-term adjustments are inevitable but will represent the "best investment opportunity." He further revealed that SoftBank Group Corp. would primarily rely on project financing rather than its own capital to advance the investment, expressing optimism about OpenAI's IPO prospects. ## France Becomes the Core of European AI Strategy SoftBank Group Corp.'s investment plan in France is massive, involving the construction of 3.1 gigawatts of AI data centers in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France by 2031. Sites include Dunkirk, Bosquel, and Bouchain, with a total investment of €75 billion. At a press conference alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Son stated, "This is a huge investment. We are already advancing related projects in the United States and continuing to expand. We have the capability to make France the center of Europe, and Europe needs this kind of AI technology." In terms of partnerships, SoftBank Group Corp. will collaborate with French engineering company Schneider Electric to establish a large-scale industrial production center in Dunkirk, serving as a crucial component of the overall layout. ## Project Financing Dominates, Limited Use of Own Capital Despite the impressive scale of the investment, Son emphasized that SoftBank Group Corp. does not need to deploy significant amounts of its own funds. He stated that the French project would primarily rely on project financing, citing SoftBank Group Corp.'s 10-gigawatt project in Ohio as an example—where the company is about to sign long-term power purchase agreements with customers. "The amount of capital we need to invest ourselves is very, very small," Son said. "I am confident in securing substantial purchase orders from existing customers, and we can extend this momentum to France." This financing strategy means SoftBank Group Corp. can leverage infrastructure investments far exceeding its own capital without significantly draining its balance sheet. ## Learning from History, Bullish on AI's Long-Term Value Addressing external concerns about an AI bubble, Son responded by drawing on history. He pointed out that automotive and electronics stocks suffered heavy losses during the Wall Street crash of 1929, but continued to rise over the following century. "There are always adjustments in history," he said. "But if you look back, electronics and automotives crashed in 1929, yet rose for many, many years afterward... So there may be some adjustments, but for me, that will be the best investment opportunity." He similarly characterized the burst of the Dotcom Bubble as "a small bump" in a long-term growth story, emphasizing that AI is "the greatest technological revolution and cognitive leap humanity has ever experienced; this is just the beginning of the internet era." ## OpenAI Holdings Exceed 20%; Son Unconcerned About Concentration Risk Regarding the investment portfolio, Son addressed questions about SoftBank Group Corp.'s excessive bet on OpenAI. He stated that OpenAI accounts for slightly over 20% of SoftBank Group Corp.'s net asset value, while British chip designer Arm remains SoftBank Group Corp.'s largest holding, accounting for more than 50% of net asset value. SoftBank Group Corp. has previously collaborated with OpenAI, jointly participating in the Stargate project to build AI infrastructure in the United States. Son remains optimistic about OpenAI's prospects, stating that the company "will be very successful," coinciding with reports that OpenAI is planning an IPO. 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