SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son Weighs $100 Billion AI Chip Plant and Data Centers in France

SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son is advancing the “Izanagi Project,” which would use chip designs from its Arm unit as the foundation for an ecosystem spanning semiconductor manufacturing, energy supply and data-center computing. If the French investment proceeds, it would mark a major step in SoftBank’s shift from an investment company toward control of end-to-end AI infrastructure, while strengthening Europe’s sovereign computing capacity.

As of July 19, 2026, SoftBank was considering investing about $100 billion in France. Other reports estimated the broadly equivalent amount at €75 billion or ¥14 trillion. The project would include an AI chip plant and data centers, but the location, construction start date, financing structure and completion schedule have yet to be formally announced.