Microsoft and Amazon have announced billions of dollars in investments in France, boosting the artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud sectors.
Microsoft said it is committing 4 billion euros ($4.3 billion) to expand its cloud and AI infrastructure in France , while also funding AI skilling and supporting France's tech industry
The company said the investments will be related to providing up to 25,000 of its most advanced GPUs , or graphics processing units, to France by the end of 2025. Microsoft will also train 1 million people and support 2,500 AI startups by 2027.
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The announcement was made during the "Choose France" summit, which focuses on encouraging foreign investment in the country.
“This significant investment demonstrates our continued commitment to supporting digital innovation and economic growth in France,” said Microsoft President Brad Smith. “We are building state-of-the-art Cloud and AI infrastructure, training people to acquire AI skills, and supporting French startups as they confidently use our technology to grow in a fair and responsible way,” he added.
As part of its investment, Microsoft will also open a new data center in the French city of Mulhouse.
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On the other hand, Amazon will invest 1.2 billion euros in France. As part of this investment, more than 3,000 jobs in the country. The company has already announced another 2,000 new positions for 2024. In addition, Amazon's footprint in the country will increase, according to Frederic Duval.
“Expanding our logistics network supports local economic development, creates quality jobs and allows us to reduce the carbon footprint of our deliveries while improving the overall customer experience,” said Duval.
Collectively, Microsoft and Amazon's investments in France exceed 5 billion euros.
French President Emmanuel Macron is trying to promote the country as an artificial intelligence. Paris is already a major center for AI research and development, with Facebook having established one of its main artificial intelligence labs there, FAIR.
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These investments by Microsoft and Amazon will have a significant impact on the local economy of France. New jobs willas companies will need staff to support their new infrastructure. This could reduce unemployment and increase the purchasing power of residents.
Then, France's competitiveness in the technology. Investing in cloud and AI infrastructure could make France a global leader in these areas, attracting more technology companies and other foreign investment.
Finally, investments could encourage innovation and research in France. Investing in infrastructure could provide the necessary platforms and tools for researchers, encouraging the development of new technologies and solutions.
Source: www.cnbc.com
