SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son said in an exclusive CNBC interview in Paris on June 1 that the scale of this AI revolution is “not just 10 times the internet boom, but most likely 50 times,” calling it “the greatest technological change in human history” and adding that “current AI development is like the early stages of the internet.” On the same day, he appeared alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at a joint press conference to formally announce that SoftBank will build an AI data center cluster in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France by 2031, with total computing power reaching 3.1 gigawatts and a total investment of €75 billion (about $87 billion). The sites include Dunkirk, Bosquel and Bouschamps, and SoftBank will jointly develop a large industrial production center in Dunkirk with Schneider Electric. This is SoftBank’s largest AI infrastructure investment in Europe to date.
Son emphasized that the European investment will rely mainly on project financing rather than SoftBank’s own capital. Citing its 10 gigawatt project in Ohio, USA as an example, he explained that the model leverages long-term power purchase agreements with customers to attract external financing, with “the actual proportion of self-funded capital being extremely low.” When asked about downside risks, he referenced the long-term upward trend of the automotive and electronics sectors after the 1929 stock market crash, saying that even if a market correction occurs for AI, “it will become an excellent investment opportunity.” Regarding the portfolio structure, Son revealed that OpenAI accounts for just over 20% of SoftBank’s net asset value, while Arm remains the largest position at over 50%; he also expressed optimism about OpenAI’s upcoming IPO.