SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son said the current artificial intelligence boom is significantly larger than the internet-driven expansion of the late 1990s and early 2000s, as the Japanese investment giant pushes forward with one of Europe's largest AI infrastructure projects.
Speaking in Paris on Monday, Son said the AI revolution is "probably 50x bigger" than the dot-com era and described it as "the biggest revolution of technology and realization that mankind ever experienced," according to CNBC.
The remarks came a day after SoftBank announced plans to invest up to $87 billion to develop and operate 5 gigawatts of AI data center capacity in France, including an initial phase worth $52.2 billion that will deliver 3.1 gigawatts of capacity in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031.
The investment represents SoftBank's largest AI infrastructure commitment in Europe and was unveiled in the context of the annual Choose France investment summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.
During a press briefing alongside Macron, Son said Europe needed to accelerate AI development and argued that France could become a leading center for AI infrastructure because of its industrial base and energy resources. He added that SoftBank was already expanding similar projects in the United States and intended to extend that momentum into France.
The announcement arrives as countries across Europe, North America and Asia increase spending on data centers, semiconductors and energy infrastructure amid intensifying competition for computing capacity. The drive has also gained urgency against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions and broader concerns about supply chain resilience, energy security and technological independence.
SoftBank's French expansion will include a partnership with Schneider Electric to establish a large-scale industrial production hub in Dunkirk. The project is expected to support the manufacturing and assembly of infrastructure used in AI data centers. Reuters reported that state-backed utility EDF is also involved in parts of the development, including the conversion of a former power plant site.
The company said the investment will largely be financed through project financing rather than direct funding from SoftBank's balance sheet. Son told reporters that the group expects to secure long-term customer agreements that will support the developments financially.
Son also addressed SoftBank's exposure to OpenAI, saying the AI company accounts for just over 20% of the group's net asset value, while chip designer Arm Holdings remains SoftBank's largest holding at more than 50%.
SoftBank has deepened its involvement in AI infrastructure through its partnership with OpenAI on the Stargate project in the United States. The initiative, announced in 2025, aims to develop large-scale computing infrastructure and includes SoftBank among its lead financial backers.
