Microsoft Australia is to spend $25 million on building data centres, cybersecurity and AI skills training over the next four years.
The decision was announced by the company’s global chairman and chief executive officer Satya Nadella alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Sydney today.
The deal will see Microsoft ramp up their Azure AI supercomputing and Cloud infrastructure in Australia, work with the Australian AI Safety Institute, extend its Cyber-Shield defence program to other government agencies, work closer with the Department of Home Affairs, and train three million Australians in workforce-ready AI skills by 2028.
The company is eyeing a 140% expansion in its Australian operations by 2029, it says.
“Australia has an enormous opportunity to translate AI into real economic growth and societal benefit,” says Nadella.
“That is why we are making our largest investment in Australia to date.”
Albanese says they want all Australians to benefit from AI.
“Our national AI plan is all about capturing the economic opportunities of this transformative technology while protecting Australians from the risks,” he says.
“Microsoft’s long-term investment in our national capability will help deliver on that plan.”
MICROSOFT IN CLASSROOMS
In classrooms, the US tech giant has launched a free program for teachers and school leaders and partnering with youth platform Anyway (formerly Year13) to offer a free AI-career coach to up to 1000 schools.
Microsoft will also launch another program for non-profit and social leaders so help them drive AI adoption by community organisations.
The programs follow an AI workers summit just recently held between the tech company and Australian Council of Trade Unions.
Concerns have already been raised about the lack of physical details like sites and power supply; click here for the Sydney morning Herald report.
With Australia’s data centre sector reportedly employing just 11,500 people, local jobs to be created are mainly in facilities management such as security, HVAC maintenance, and electrical work, rather than high-end software engineering, the SMH reports.
HELPING HAND
The company’s Australia/New Zealand president, Jane Livesey, says they are ready to help Australia to implement a national AI plan.
“As organisations across government and industry navigate one of the biggest technology shifts of our generation, our focus is simple: building the trusted capability and ecosystem Australia needs to innovate confidently, compete globally, and ensure the benefits of AI are shared widely and equitably,” she says
Bran Black, Chief Executive of Business Council Australia, claims the news is “a global game-changer” and provides the investment needed for an AI economy by driving jobs and productivity.
Lucinda Longcroft, interim CEO of Director of Policy and Government Affairs for Tech Council of Australia says Microsoft’s decision is a “strong endorsement” of Australia.
Belinda Dennett, Chief Executive Office of Data Centres Australia, says the spending on new “digital infrastructure” will allow Australia to tap into a very profound technological shift.
“It will enable digital services for Australians and capture more of the AI value chain locally, supporting high skilled jobs and playing an important role in the energy transition,” she says.
“This is a significant vote of confidence in Australia as a hub for AI infrastructure investment and data centre development.”
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