Deutsche Telekom and Schwarz Group to build AI data centre, German newspaper reports

BERLIN, Nov 30 (Reuters) – Deutsche Telekom ​and the Schwarz Group are ‌planning to jointly build a gigafactory for artificial ‌intelligence, German newspaper Handelsblatt reported on Sunday.

An “AI gigafactory” is a facility designed specifically to ⁠support the ‌massive computing needs of AI.

The Germany-based telecoms giant and ‍unlisted retailer Schwarz are in talks to apply for the large data centres funded by ​the European Union, the ‌newspaper said, citing six people familiar with the matter.

The European Commission this year unveiled plans to provide $20 billion in funding to construct AI ⁠data centres to ​catch up with the ​U.S. and China.

The negotiations are said to be well ‍advanced, ⁠but a formal agreement has not yet been reached, three people ⁠familiar with the matter told Handelsblatt.

(‌Reporting by Maria Martinez; editing ‌by Diane Craft)