In a bold move to enhance its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, France has announced a substantial investment of €109 billion. This announcement was made by President Emmanuel Macron ahead of the AI Action Summit in Paris, a significant global event co-hosted by France and India, which aims to address AI regulation, governance, and international collaboration.
The investment is designed to position France as a formidable competitor to the United States and China in the AI sector. It combines both public and private funding, with significant contributions expected from international partners, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Canadian asset management firm Brookfield.
A large portion of the funding will be allocated to the development of new data centers, enhancing AI model training capabilities, and bolstering France’s semiconductor industry. The UAE has committed between €30 billion and €50 billion to this initiative, primarily to support the construction of a major data center complex in France, which will be the largest in Europe. This project will be spearheaded by MGX, an investment fund backed by the UAE.
Brookfield is also set to invest €20 billion in AI infrastructure, with plans for a data center in Cambrai, northern France, aimed at serving as a key hub for AI research and computing power.
President Macron emphasized the urgency of investment in AI, stating, “Europe is going to speed up, France is going to speed up.” He referenced the recent Stargate Project, highlighting the need for Europe to invest aggressively in AI to remain competitive.
France’s strategy includes prioritizing the construction of energy-efficient data centers, leveraging its reliance on nuclear energy for a stable and low-carbon power source. Additionally, increasing domestic semiconductor production is crucial for ensuring a reliable supply of essential components for AI applications.
Domestic AI firms, such as Mistral AI, are also contributing to this expansion, with plans to build a multi-billion-euro data center in France. As the global race for AI dominance intensifies, France’s significant investment marks a pivotal step in its ambition to lead in the AI landscape.
