Latest Technology News
SoftBank plans up to €75 billion in French AI data centers
SoftBank announced a plan to invest up to €75 billion to build AI data centers in France, with the first phase focused on 3.1 gigawatts of capacity in Hauts-de-France. The project, which includes a 1 GW campus in Bosquel through a joint venture with Sesterce, underscores France’s role as a growing hub for AI infrastructure.
SoftBank’s Europe push extends its global AI infrastructure buildout
The France project follows SoftBank’s recent major AI commitments elsewhere, including its stake in OpenAI, showing a broader strategy to secure compute capacity for next-generation AI systems. The company says the European buildout will eventually reach 5 gigawatts and serve key markets such as London, Brussels, and Amsterdam.
Global AI spending is forecast to surge to $2.59 trillion in 2026
Gartner forecasts worldwide AI spending will reach $2.59 trillion in 2026, a 47% increase from the prior year. The report signals continued rapid investment across software, infrastructure, and AI-enabled services as enterprises expand deployment.
Cyberattacks are increasingly causing physical disruption
A GovTech analysis says 2026 cyber incidents are shifting from espionage and theft toward physical disruption of critical infrastructure. It cites warnings from Polish security officials and examples involving telecoms and medical technology, highlighting how attackers are blending digital access with real-world impact.
AI-driven attacks are accelerating against utilities and networks
The same cybersecurity reporting says hostile actors are using AI for automated reconnaissance, vulnerability scanning, and credential theft. That shift is contributing to higher attack frequency and more persistent risk for municipal utilities and other critical systems.
AI safety debate intensifies as researchers warn of extreme long-term risks
A major technology analysis from El País reports renewed debate over whether advanced AI could become dangerous enough to threaten human survival. The piece notes that the most extreme extinction claims remain speculative, while most surveyed AI experts still judge such outcomes unlikely.
BEYOND Expo 2026 spotlights embodied intelligence and robotics
BEYOND Expo 2026 is emphasizing embodied intelligence, robotics, spatial computing, AI agents, and open ecosystems, with nearly 800 exhibitors participating. The event reflects a broader industry shift from purely digital AI toward real-world hardware and physical deployment.
Europe’s innovation gap with the U.S. and China is under scrutiny
At Panathēnea 2026 in Athens, speakers focused on Europe’s difficulty in competing with the U.S. and China in scaling innovation. Key themes included access to capital, risk-taking, and the challenge of building globally competitive technology companies.
French AI infrastructure becomes a strategic industrial play
SoftBank’s planned French campuses are tied not only to compute demand but also to a wider industrial ecosystem, including partners such as Schneider Electric for the Dunkirk site. The project aims to build an AI and robotics manufacturing hub positioned near major European markets.
Tech markets remain centered on compute, scale, and infrastructure
Today’s biggest technology stories are dominated by heavy investment in data centers, AI spending forecasts, and the physical infrastructure needed to support advanced models. The common thread is that compute capacity is now a strategic bottleneck shaping competition among major technology players.