Campus AI Unveils Expansion Plans in France, Aiming for 3GW Compute Power

Campus AI has revealed its strategy to broaden its footprint in France, targeting the establishment of up to 3 gigawatts (GW) of AI computing capacity nationwide. This expansion is set to follow the selection of a second site, effectively doubling the initial funding invested by the consortium and its partners.

The initiative is a collaboration involving Bpifrance, France's public investment bank; Mistral, a prominent European generative AI firm; MGX, a worldwide investment company in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies; and NVIDIA, a global frontrunner in accelerated computing.

This new phase of growth extends beyond Campus AI's flagship facility in Fouju, situated in the Seine-et-Marne region. The goal is to establish a comprehensive pan-European network of AI factories while addressing the escalating need for sustainable and responsible AI computing throughout Europe.

As it broadens its operations, Campus AI aims to bolster the development of Mistral by delivering extensive computing capacity across various sites. This undertaking is poised to enhance France's stature as Europe’s prime hub for large-scale, low-carbon AI infrastructure.

The announcement took place during the Choose France Summit, attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and His Excellency Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority of Abu Dhabi. Their participation underscored the strategic significance of this endeavor for both France and the UAE.

This expansion is anticipated to generate thousands of job opportunities across France. Campus AI is collaborating closely with local French companies in sectors such as power generation, batteries, semiconductors, electronics, and other vital technologies. The project aims to unite critical segments of the French industrial supply chain, thereby enhancing France's technological independence and fostering a competitive AI ecosystem in Europe.

This development follows swift progress at the Fouju campus, where local governing bodies and community representatives have partnered with Campus AI to attract investments and create employment. The campus emphasizes high environmental standards and operates utilizing France’s decarbonized electricity grid. It also incorporates water-free cooling solutions and energy-efficient designs to facilitate sustainable AI growth.

According to Campus AI, the second site will replicate this model, prioritizing robust partnerships with local governments, exemplary environmental practices, and bolstering European AI innovation. This initiative is expected to amplify France’s role as a pivotal center for sustainable artificial intelligence advancement in Europe.

Thibaud Desfossés, President of Campus AI, asserted that France possesses the necessary energy resources, talent, and research capabilities to lead Europe in artificial intelligence. He emphasized that expanding Campus AI to 3GW would create an open platform that empowers French suppliers and technological advancements while providing local AI firms access to much-needed large-scale computing resources.