Microsoft (MSFT, Financial) has announced a $3 billion investment to enhance its cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities in India, the world's most populous country. This strategic move aims to boost Microsoft's revenue growth by tapping into India's growing technological landscape.
CEO Satya Nadella shared this investment plan during an event in Bangalore, engaging with founders and executives from tech firms like Wipro Ltd. and Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. Microsoft intends to complete this investment over the next two years.
India, with its vast population of 1.4 billion, is rapidly emerging as a key battlefield for AI development. High-profile visits from industry leaders, such as Nvidia's (NVDA) Jensen Huang and Advanced Micro Devices' (AMD) Lisa Su, highlight the country's significance in the tech sector. India hosts millions of programmers and is home to major tech service providers like Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys, boasting one of the largest AI talent pools globally.
Under Nadella's leadership, Microsoft, headquartered in Redmond, Washington, has been actively commercializing AI. Recently, the company announced an $80 billion plan to build data centers that will provide essential infrastructure for deploying AI systems and tools for businesses.
Microsoft has already made significant investments in India, employing over 23,000 staff in tech hubs such as Bangalore and Hyderabad. The company is committed to training 10 million people in AI skills by 2030 in India.
