France invests €109B in AI to compete globally

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a €109 billion investment in artificial intelligence (AI), aiming to position France as a global leader and counter the $500 billion U.S. Stargate project. Speaking at the Third International AI Summit in Paris, Macron highlighted plans to develop AI-focused data centers, with major contributions from the UAE (€50B), Brookfield (€20B), Bpifrance (€10B), and Iliad (€3B). So far, €83 billion has been committed, with Orange and Thales expected to join.

Macron addressed concerns over French AI startups like Mistral, Owkin, and Wandercraft relocating to the U.S., asserting Europe’s competitiveness. He cited DeepSeek as proof that innovation isn’t solely about scale: "DeepSeek adapted OpenAI’s latest model and proved efficiency matters more." Mistral’s CEO, Arthur Mensch, announced plans to invest billions in a French AI cluster, reinforcing its ambition to rival OpenAI, Meta, and DeepSeek.

France’s nuclear-powered energy surplus makes it an attractive AI hub. In 2024, the country exported 90 TWh of electricity, drawing foreign investors. Macron emphasized that France’s stable, clean energy strengthens its position as a premier AI destination.