Japanese technology conglomerate SoftBank announced plans to invest up to €75 billion ($52 billion) in artificial intelligence data centers across France, marking one of the largest foreign technology investments in the country.

The initial phase of the investment aims to deliver up to 3.1 gigawatts of computing capacity by 2031, according to company statements. SoftBank indicated the ultimate goal is to develop and operate up to 5 gigawatts of additional data center capacity to support AI computing needs.

The investment represents SoftBank's latest major commitment to AI infrastructure development as demand for computing power continues to surge globally. Data centers are critical infrastructure for training and running artificial intelligence models, which require massive computational resources.

France has been positioning itself as a European hub for technology investment, offering incentives to attract major international companies. The SoftBank investment could significantly boost France's AI capabilities and establish the country as a key player in the European artificial intelligence landscape.

The timeline for the rollout and specific locations for the data centers were not immediately detailed in the announcement. SoftBank has been actively investing in AI and technology infrastructure globally as part of its broader strategy to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom.