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SoftBank Deepens AI Infrastructure Investments In Europe

During a recent interview with CNBC in Paris, SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son said the ongoing artificial intelligence revolution could have an impact up to 50 times greater than the dot-com boom, underscoring the company’s growing commitment to AI infrastructure and technology investments.

Revolutionary Investment Scale

Speaking with CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal, Son compared the current AI wave to the early growth of the internet, arguing that the long-term implications could be significantly larger. Reflecting on the dot-com crash, he noted that while markets experienced a sharp correction, the internet ultimately transformed industries worldwide. Son suggested that AI could follow a similar trajectory, with periods of volatility outweighed by long-term technological adoption.

Billion-Dollar Data Center Project In Europe

SoftBank recently announced plans to invest €75 billion (approximately $87 billion) in AI infrastructure in France. The project includes the development of 3.1 GW of AI data centre capacity in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031, covering locations including Dunkirk, Bosquel and Bouchain.

During a briefing alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Son said the initiative would primarily rely on project financing, supported by expected long-term demand from customers and partners. The investment extends SoftBank’s AI infrastructure strategy from the United States into Europe.

Strategic Partnerships And Portfolio Balance

Alongside its European expansion, SoftBank continues to deepen its involvement in AI infrastructure projects globally. The group is a key partner in the Stargate initiative, which aims to develop large-scale AI infrastructure in the United States in collaboration with OpenAI. Addressing concerns about concentration risk, Son said OpenAI accounts for slightly more than 20% of SoftBank’s net asset value, while British chip designer Arm remains the company’s largest holding, representing more than 50% of its portfolio.

Looking Ahead

SoftBank’s growing investments in AI infrastructure reflect the company’s expectation that demand for computing power will continue to accelerate over the coming years. Through projects in Europe and the United States, as well as strategic investments across the AI ecosystem, SoftBank is positioning itself to benefit from what Son believes will be one of the most significant technological shifts since the rise of the internet.

A New Twitter-Inspired Social Network Is Taking Shape

A new social network called Twitter.now is entering the market, with a founding team that includes former Twitter trademark counsel Stephen Coates. The service is being developed by startup Operation Bluebird.

As Ars Technica reported, X sued the company last year and asked a Delaware judge to block the launch. Operation Bluebird argued in a petition that X had abandoned trademarks including “Twitter” and “Tweet.”

Coates has said the project is not an attempt to recreate the original Twitter. In a LinkedIn post, he described the platform as a new public space focused on trust, transparency and user choice.

AI System To Rate Posts

Twitter.now is currently being tested, with early access priced at $20. Its main feature is VERA, an AI system designed to evaluate posts, verify claims and provide sources and context.

Posts receive a trust score, with users eventually able to set a minimum score to filter their feeds. The company says this approach will give people more control over what they see instead of leaving those decisions entirely to an algorithm.

Moderation Remains A Challenge

Scaling moderation will be one of the platform’s biggest tests. Social networks have repeatedly struggled with content moderation as their communities grow, and newer platforms such as Bluesky have faced similar criticism.

Operation Bluebird says VERA will form the basis of its moderation and verification system. A second version is already planned, with expanded tools that would let users set a specific trust threshold for the posts appearing in their feeds.

For now, Twitter.now remains in an early testing phase, combining the familiarity of the Twitter name with an AI-driven approach to evaluating online information.

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