ANI
New Delhi
Microsoft has announced its plan to invest a staggering $2.9 billion in data centers across Japan by 2025.
This investment, revealed by Microsoft President Brad Smith in an exclusive interview with Nikkei, marks the company’s largest financial commitment to the country.
The initiative comes in response to Tokyo’s push for increased computing power to drive advancements in artificial intelligence (AI).
Brad Smith highlighted the critical importance of AI adoption and domestic investment, emphasizing that it has become a “critical national priority for governments aroundthe world.”
With Tokyo actively introducing measures to bolster AI computing power domestically, Microsoft’s substantial investment is poised to significantly augment Japan’s technological infrastructure.
The announcement of Microsoft’s investment plans coincides with the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to Washington, underscoring the strategic significance of the partnership between Microsoft and Japan.
As part of its investment strategy, Microsoft intends to deploy advanced AI semiconductors at two existing data center sites in eastern and western Japan.
Leveraging its position as the world’s second-largest provider of cloud services, Microsoft aims to bolster Japan’s technological prowess in AI-related research and development.
In addition to infrastructure investments, Microsoft unveiled plans to launch an AI-related reskilling program in Japan, targeting the upskilling of 3 million workers over the course of three years. Furthermore, the company plans to establish a new research and development lab in Tokyo dedicated to robotics and AI.
“The competitiveness of every part of the Japanese economy will depend on the adoption of AI,” remarked Brad Smith, underlining the transformative potential of AI in sustaining productivity growth amidst demographic challenges.
Microsoft’s commitment to Japan extends beyond infrastructure and reskilling initiatives. The company, through Microsoft Research Asia, will allocate 1.5 billion yen (USD 9.9 million) to fund research projects at the University of Tokyo and a collaborative effort between Keio University and Carnegie Mellon University over the next five years.
Moreover, Microsoft pledges to collaborate with the Japanese government to enhance cybersecurity resilience in the face of evolving threats.
Brad Smith emphasized the importance of close cooperation between tech companies and governments to safeguard cyberspace against emerging threats, particularly from entities in China and Russia.
