Tech giants Microsoft and Google are turbocharging Europe's AI landscape with billion-dollar bets on next-gen data centers. In a double-barreled announcement this week, both companies revealed massive infrastructure projects aimed at dominating the continent's artificial intelligence future.
Microsoft’s $10B Portuguese Power Play
The Windows maker plans to invest $10 billion starting early next year in a Portuguese mega-facility using 12,600 cutting-edge Nvidia chips. Partnering with British AI specialist Nscale and local firm Start Campus, the Sines-based center will leverage renewable energy and strategic submarine cable connections. 🚀 "Portugal’s becoming Europe’s AI heartbeat," Microsoft President Brad Smith told local media.
Google’s German Green Gambit
Not to be outdone, Google committed €5.5 billion ($6.4B) through 2029 for German data centers featuring innovative heat-recycling systems. The projects in Hesse state will use 100% renewable energy and repurpose excess heat for nearby homes. Chancellor Friedrich Merz called it "a growth engine for Germany’s digital future." 🌱
Both companies cited exploding AI demand, with Nscale’s Daniel Bathurst noting: "The last five months have been wild – it’s a race against time." The investments are expected to create thousands of jobs while testing new sustainability models for energy-intensive AI infrastructure.
