As Paris prepares to host a global artificial intelligence (AI) summit next week, Canadian fund Brookfield is set to invest €20 billion ($21 billion) by 2030 to help build data centres in France, according to a French media report.
Issued on: 09/02/2025 -
FRANCE24
By: NEWS WIRES
File photo taken in March 2024 shows the Mistral AI logo, one of the leading players in AI in France. © Sébastien Bozon, AFP
Canadian fund Brookfield will invest 20 billion euros ($21 billion) by 2030 to help build data centres crucial to artificial intelligence development in France, a source close to the deal told AFP on Saturday.
Confirming reports in the La Tribune Dimanche newspaper, the announcement comes as Paris prepares to play host to a global summit of political and tech industry leaders on the technology on Monday and Tuesday.
With the world hurrying to stay abreast of the AI race dominated by the United States and China, countries are competing to build the vast buildings housing the swathes of data needed to train AI models up.
According to La Tribune Dimanche, 15 of the 20 million euros are earmarked for erecting new centres, with a "mega-project" in the northern city of Cambrai as its crown jewel.
That deal was inked in on January 31 by French President Emmanuel Macron and Brookfield's CEO Bruce Flatt, the paper reported.
The other five million euros are to be spent on "associated infrastructure", notably the energy generators needed for the data centres, which consume massive amounts of electricity.
01:32
Already on Thursday, the French presidency said that the United Arab Emirates would build a giant data centre in France for a total outlay of between 30 and 50 billion euros.
Once built, that AI "campus" would be the largest in Europe, but its location is yet to be set out.
France currently boasts more than 300 data centres.
That would make it the world's sixth-largest host country, after the United States, Germany, Britain, China and Canada, according to a report by the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council.
The summit Monday and Tuesday comes weeks after US President Donald Trump's administration trailed a $500-billion plan for investment into AI infrastructure led by OpenAI and its backer SoftBank.
(AFP)
Macron announces €100 billion investment in AI with deepfake video blitz
France will see €109 billion ($113 billion) invested in AI projects, President Emmanuel Macron announced Sunday, calling it a game-changer ahead of a global AI summit in Paris. To promote the event, he posted AI-generated fake videos of himself in various roles, showcasing the technology's potential.
Issued on: 09/02/2025
By: FRANCE 24
Video by: Emily BOYLE
Canadian fund Brookfield will invest 20 billion euros ($21 billion) by 2030 to help build data centres crucial to artificial intelligence development in France, a source close to the deal told AFP on Saturday.
Confirming reports in the La Tribune Dimanche newspaper, the announcement comes as Paris prepares to play host to a global summit of political and tech industry leaders on the technology on Monday and Tuesday.
With the world hurrying to stay abreast of the AI race dominated by the United States and China, countries are competing to build the vast buildings housing the swathes of data needed to train AI models up.
According to La Tribune Dimanche, 15 of the 20 million euros are earmarked for erecting new centres, with a "mega-project" in the northern city of Cambrai as its crown jewel.
That deal was inked in on January 31 by French President Emmanuel Macron and Brookfield's CEO Bruce Flatt, the paper reported.
The other five million euros are to be spent on "associated infrastructure", notably the energy generators needed for the data centres, which consume massive amounts of electricity.
01:32Already on Thursday, the French presidency said that the United Arab Emirates would build a giant data centre in France for a total outlay of between 30 and 50 billion euros.
Once built, that AI "campus" would be the largest in Europe, but its location is yet to be set out.
France currently boasts more than 300 data centres.
That would make it the world's sixth-largest host country, after the United States, Germany, Britain, China and Canada, according to a report by the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council.
The summit Monday and Tuesday comes weeks after US President Donald Trump's administration trailed a $500-billion plan for investment into AI infrastructure led by OpenAI and its backer SoftBank.
(AFP)
Macron announces €100 billion investment in AI with deepfake video blitz
France will see €109 billion ($113 billion) invested in AI projects, President Emmanuel Macron announced Sunday, calling it a game-changer ahead of a global AI summit in Paris. To promote the event, he posted AI-generated fake videos of himself in various roles, showcasing the technology's potential.
Issued on: 09/02/2025
By: FRANCE 24
Video by: Emily BOYLE
01:28
French President Emmanuel Macron answers journalists' questions during a televised interview broadcast on TV channel France 2 and in India on the eve of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit at the Grand Palais, Paris, February 9, 2025. © Gonzalo Fuentes, AFP
Investors will pump 109 billion euros into artificial intelligence (AI) projects in France in the coming years, President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday ahead of a two-day global summit on the technology in Paris.
He described the investment as "the equivalent for France of what the US has announced with 'Stargate'," referring to OpenAI’s $500-billion programme.
To promote the summit, Macron posted a series of AI-generated fake videos featuring himself in various roles.
In one scene, Macron dances to a 1980s hit song "Voyage Voyage" by French singer Desireless.
In another, he is inserted in a spy comedy film about the exploits of a French secret agent played by Jean Dujardin.
In a third, he sings a rap song and shows off his moves, channelling French performer Nekfeu.
"Nicely done," the real Macron, who sported a suit and tie, said in the video.
Investors will pump 109 billion euros into artificial intelligence (AI) projects in France in the coming years, President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday ahead of a two-day global summit on the technology in Paris.
He described the investment as "the equivalent for France of what the US has announced with 'Stargate'," referring to OpenAI’s $500-billion programme.
To promote the summit, Macron posted a series of AI-generated fake videos featuring himself in various roles.
In one scene, Macron dances to a 1980s hit song "Voyage Voyage" by French singer Desireless.
In another, he is inserted in a spy comedy film about the exploits of a French secret agent played by Jean Dujardin.
In a third, he sings a rap song and shows off his moves, channelling French performer Nekfeu.
"Nicely done," the real Macron, who sported a suit and tie, said in the video.
"It's pretty well done, it made me laugh," Macron added, referring to the videos created over the years and featured in his Instagram post.
"More seriously, with artificial intelligence, we can do some very big things: change healthcare, energy, life in our society", the 47-year-old president said.
"France and Europe must be at the heart of this revolution to seize every opportunity and also to promote our principles," he added.
On Monday and Tuesday, Macron will host the AI Action Summit in Paris, gathering heads of state and government. India will co-chair the event.
The clip ends with one of the most famous parodies in which Macron is depicted as US television action hero MacGyver, known for his looks and resourcefulness.
"There, that's definitely me," quipped Macron.
By Sunday afternoon, the post has racked up more than 73,000 likes on Instagram.
Some people said they thought that Macron's Instagram account had been hacked.
"A cool president," said one comment.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen unveils €200 bn boost for AI at Paris summit
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen Tuesday announced a push to channel €200 billion euros in public and private investments into Europe's nascent artificial intelligence (AI) industry. This comes as world leaders and experts wrap up a two-day summit in Paris.
Issued on: 11/02/2025 -
Streamlined procedures
French President Emmanuel Macron, who is hosting the Paris summit with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi agreed on reducing administration.
He vowed Monday to blast through red tape to build AI infrastructure in his bid to keep Europe competitive.
"We will adopt the Notre Dame de Paris strategy" of streamlined procedures that saw France rebuild the landmark cathedral within five years of its devastation in a 2019 fire, he said.
Macron's push to highlight French competitiveness saw him repeatedly trumpet €109 billion to be invested in French AI in the coming years.
He has also hailed France's extensive fleet of nuclear plants as a key advantage providing clean, scalable energy supply for AI's vast processing needs.
(with AFP)
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen Tuesday announced a push to channel €200 billion euros in public and private investments into Europe's nascent artificial intelligence (AI) industry. This comes as world leaders and experts wrap up a two-day summit in Paris.
Issued on: 11/02/2025 -
A copy of "The European Union Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act".
REUTERS -
Isabel Infantes
RFI
"We aim to mobilise a total of 200 billion euros for AI investments in Europe," the European Commission president told a Paris AI summit, saying the EU would contribute €50 billion with the rest pledged by "providers, investors and industry."
Europe faces an uphill challenge as the United States and China charge ahead in the AI field, but von der Leyen insisted "the AI race is far from over".
"We want to accelerate innovation," she told the gathering of leaders and tech executives, declaring that "global leadership is still up for grabs".
The EU investment push would include €20 billion to finance four AI gigafactories, "to allow open, collaborative development of the most complex AI models," a commission statement said.
The initial EU funding will be drawn from existing programmes with a digital component.
Von der Leyen said the European funds would "top up" pledges announced Monday by a group of more than 60 European companies such as Airbus, Volkswagen and Mistral AI.
RFI
"We aim to mobilise a total of 200 billion euros for AI investments in Europe," the European Commission president told a Paris AI summit, saying the EU would contribute €50 billion with the rest pledged by "providers, investors and industry."
Europe faces an uphill challenge as the United States and China charge ahead in the AI field, but von der Leyen insisted "the AI race is far from over".
"We want to accelerate innovation," she told the gathering of leaders and tech executives, declaring that "global leadership is still up for grabs".
The EU investment push would include €20 billion to finance four AI gigafactories, "to allow open, collaborative development of the most complex AI models," a commission statement said.
The initial EU funding will be drawn from existing programmes with a digital component.
Von der Leyen said the European funds would "top up" pledges announced Monday by a group of more than 60 European companies such as Airbus, Volkswagen and Mistral AI.
Champions Initiative
The firms said they aimed to stimulate the emergence of new companies, with €150 billion "earmarked" by international investors for AI-related opportunities in Europe over five years as part of the "EU AI Champions Initiative".
Von der Leyen also announced that the EU would be putting its public supercomputers "at the service of our best startups and scientists."
"We want AI to be a force for good," she said. "AI needs competition, but AI also needs collaboration."
The EU chief took the stage in Paris immediately after US Vice President JD Vance who took aim at the bloc in warning that "excessive regulation" could kill the emerging AI sector.
"AI needs the confidence of people and has to be safe," von der Leyen said, in defending the bloc's landmark AI Act regulating the technology – which includes curbs on uses deemed too dangerous.
"Safety is in the interest of business," said the EU chief, while also acknowledging that "we have to make it easier, we have to cut red tape".
The firms said they aimed to stimulate the emergence of new companies, with €150 billion "earmarked" by international investors for AI-related opportunities in Europe over five years as part of the "EU AI Champions Initiative".
Von der Leyen also announced that the EU would be putting its public supercomputers "at the service of our best startups and scientists."
"We want AI to be a force for good," she said. "AI needs competition, but AI also needs collaboration."
The EU chief took the stage in Paris immediately after US Vice President JD Vance who took aim at the bloc in warning that "excessive regulation" could kill the emerging AI sector.
"AI needs the confidence of people and has to be safe," von der Leyen said, in defending the bloc's landmark AI Act regulating the technology – which includes curbs on uses deemed too dangerous.
"Safety is in the interest of business," said the EU chief, while also acknowledging that "we have to make it easier, we have to cut red tape".
Streamlined procedures
French President Emmanuel Macron, who is hosting the Paris summit with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi agreed on reducing administration.
He vowed Monday to blast through red tape to build AI infrastructure in his bid to keep Europe competitive.
"We will adopt the Notre Dame de Paris strategy" of streamlined procedures that saw France rebuild the landmark cathedral within five years of its devastation in a 2019 fire, he said.
Macron's push to highlight French competitiveness saw him repeatedly trumpet €109 billion to be invested in French AI in the coming years.
He has also hailed France's extensive fleet of nuclear plants as a key advantage providing clean, scalable energy supply for AI's vast processing needs.
(with AFP)
No comments:
Post a Comment