A second Berlin lab would double Amazon’s robotics and AI research presence

Amazon said it would invest more than 16 billion euros ($17.94 billion) in Germany next year, directing the money toward artificial-intelligence infrastructure, high-speed satellite internet, logistics and Prime Video content. The company outlined the commitment at an investment summit in Germany.

Amazon said 4.8 billion euros would fund cloud and data-center infrastructure in the country to meet growing demand for AI services. The company also said it would expand connectivity through Amazon Leo, a satellite network in low Earth orbit designed to provide high-speed internet. Amazon plans to expand its logistics footprint and work on new content for Prime Video.

David Zapolsky, Amazon’s chief global affairs and legal officer, said Germany, Europe’s largest economy, was one of Europe’s most attractive investment opportunities.

On Monday, Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang in Berlin for Nvidia’s GTC conference, where the two discussed AI.

“We are fully committed to be one of the most advanced places in the world, not just in the European Union, but in the world to work with AI, to integrate AI into our industry,” Merz said.

The Wall Street Journal reported that, since OpenAI released ChatGPT to the public in late 2022, tech giants have pledged billions of dollars for data centers, cloud services and AI infrastructure in Europe.

Microsoft said in September last year that it would invest $30 billion in AI infrastructure and existing operations in the U.K. through 2028. Earlier this year, Amazon said it would invest 33.7 billion euros through 2035 in cloud and data-center infrastructure in Spain.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon has poured more than 100 billion euros into Germany since 2010. Amazon said it would open a second research lab focused on robotics and artificial intelligence in Berlin, doubling its research presence in the German capital.

Amazon said modernization of fulfillment centers in Bad Hersfeld, Dortmund and Werne would be completed next year. Modernization work would continue through 2028 in fulfillment centers in Koblenz, Pforzheim and Rheinberg.

News Corp, which owns Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal, has a content-licensing partnership with OpenAI.