Microsoft is all set to invest $2.9 billion in AI and cloud infrastructure expansion in Japan.
Microsoft would invest $2.9 billion over two years to expand its cloud and AI infrastructure in Japan, the latest in a series of overseas expansions by large tech firms to support the development of artificial intelligence.
Kevin Scott, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of AI, Microsoft, said, “The impact that AI is poised to create over the coming years has the potential to generate unprecedented societal benefit for the entire world. The steps we are taking today to empower Japanese citizens through AI technologies and programs—whether job training and skilling, improvements to infrastructure capacity, or new research investments—will in the aggregate help accelerate this process of beneficial innovation. We’re particularly excited for Microsoft Research’s global footprint to further expand into Japan, extending the ability for our world-class research efforts to both contribute to and benefit from local diversity of thought and talent.”
Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President, Microsoft, said, “Today’s announcement represents Microsoft’s most significant investment in Japan since we set roots here in 1978. These investments in digital infrastructure, AI skills, cybersecurity, and AI research are essential ingredients for Japan to build a robust AI Economy.”
The investment is the company’s largest in the 46 years of its operations in the country and will also go towards skilling three million people in AI and setting up a Microsoft Research Asia lab in Tokyo.
