At the "Choose France" summit held at the Palace of Versailles on May 13, 2024, Microsoft announced a significant investment of 4 billion euros ($4.3 billion) aimed at strengthening France’s artificial intelligence sector. This initiative, part of a broader effort to attract foreign investment and stimulate economic growth, was unveiled during the annual summit created by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2018.
Microsoft’s vice chair and president, Brad Smith, who was present at the event alongside Macron, detailed plans to expand next-gen Cloud and AI infrastructure in France. This includes the delivery of up to 25,000 cutting-edge GPUs by the end of 2025. Additionally, Microsoft plans to launch an AI training initiative aiming to skill 1 million French individuals by the end of 2027.
This year’s summit attracted 180 international CEOs and resulted in total foreign investments reportedly reaching 15 billion euros, surpassing the previous year’s 13 billion euros from 28 projects. During the event, Macron emphasized the necessity of advancing AI technology in Europe and highlighted the importance of partnerships with trusted entities like Microsoft. This move marks a significant step in bolstering France’s position as a global leader in the technological and innovative sectors.