American tech company Microsoft recently announced a two-year project in India worth $3 billion. According to Microsoft, this investment will “empower India with cloud and AI” technology by facilitating AI adoption, skill development, and innovation.
In the recently concluded Microsoft AI Tour, Satya Nadella, CEO and Chairman, said, “India is rapidly becoming a leader in AI innovation, unlocking new opportunities across the country. The investments in infrastructure and skills we are announcing today reaffirm our commitment to making India AI-first, and will help ensure people and organizations across the country benefit broadly”.
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Microsoft’s Latest Commitment
This is Microsoft’s latest commitment as part of its long-term ambitions of developing AI in India. In 2024, the company launched the ADVANTA(I)GE India initiative which sought to train 2.5 million Indians in AI skills by 2025. Since then, Microsoft has expanded the scope of this initiative and has shared plans to equip a further 10 million people with relevant skills in AI technology.
Microsoft says it will work closely with local institutions and businesses to expand individuals’ and organizations’ access to AI tools. The company plans to build a fourth data center in the region by 2026.
During his speech, Nadella also mentioned Microsoft’s partnership with India’s SaaSBoomi to improve the country’s SaaS ecosystem. Through this partnership, Microsoft is set to upskill more than 150,000 startup employees through focused workshops, create over 200,000 new jobs, and foster at least 5000 startups and 10000 entrepreneurs.
Additionally, Microsoft Research (MSR) Lab unveiled a new AI Innovation Network that aims to convert research into practical business solutions.