Microsoft to Invest $3 Billion in India to Boost AI and Cloud Operations

Bengaluru: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella revealed that the tech giant will invest $3 billion (approximately Rs 25,700 crore) in India to expand its artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing capabilities. The investment marks Microsoft’s largest expansion in the country.

Nadella made the announcement at a conference in Bengaluru, which was attended by start-up founders and executives from technology firms. As part of this investment, Microsoft also plans to train 10 million people in AI skills across India by 2030.

This move comes as a part of a broader strategy by global tech leaders, with other prominent figures like Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, AMD’s Lisa Su, and Meta’s Yann LeCun visiting India in recent months.

Microsoft’s Azure cloud services, which include over 60 regions and more than 300 data centers globally, will be at the forefront of this expansion. Nadella noted the impressive rate of AI adoption in India, but did not specify the exact timeline for spending the investment.

Last year, during a visit to India in February 2024, Nadella announced plans to provide AI skill-building opportunities for 2 million people, focusing on rural areas and smaller cities. This new initiative represents a significant step in scaling up AI development and training in India, aligning with the country’s rapidly growing tech ecosystem.