Microsoft Pledges $4.3 Billion Investment at Macron’s ‘Choose France’ Summit

PARIS (AP) — Microsoft announced its most substantial commitment yet to France, pledging Monday to invest 4 billion euros ($4.3 billion) this year to bolster the growing technology sector. artificial intelligence in the country.

The move is part of a broader effort unveiled during President Emmanuel Macron’s pro-business Choose France event, which aims to attract foreign investment and stimulate economic growth.

Microsoft Vice President and President Brad Smith visited the company’s French headquarters with Macron.

“We will develop the computing capacity here in France,” said Smith. “We will make this infrastructure available to everyone in France.”

The plan includes expanding next-generation cloud and AI infrastructure and supplying up to 25,000 of the most advanced GPUs, or graphics processing units, to France by the end of 2025.

Furthermore, Microsoft will launch an AI skills training initiative to train 1 million French people by the end of 2027, emphasizing the importance of equipping citizens with future-proof skills.

The announcement was made as part of the annual Choose France summit, created by Macron in 2018. The summit, held this year at the Palace of Versailles, was attended by 180 international CEOs and senior executives. He highlighted foreign investments totaling 15 billion euros, surpassing last year’s 13 billion euros raised through 28 projects.

Macron addressed the need to advance AI technology in Europe and told Microsoft staff: “We are entering a totally different world, where competition will be fierce and we can only win this competition if we have trusted partners, and you are among them ”.

This significant investment underlines Microsoft’s commitment to supporting French growth in the AI ​​economy and marks a milestone in ongoing efforts to enhance France’s position as a global leader in technology and innovation.