Microsoft has revealed plans to extend its cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) services in Malaysia with a $2.2 billion investment spread over four years.
The investment is the biggest in Microsoft's 32-year history in Malaysia, according to a blog post. Building cloud and AI infrastructure, giving 200,000 individuals access to AI training opportunities, and assisting the nation's developers are all part of the plan.
Microsoft also intends to work with the Malaysian government to improve cybersecurity in the country and create a national AI center of excellence.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that the investment is in line with Malaysia's attempts to improve its AI capabilities after meeting with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Thursday.
During a visit to Kuala Lumpur, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated:
"We want to ensure that every organization and startup can benefit from having world-class infrastructure right here in the nation."
Global consulting firm Kearney's analysis indicates that by 2030, artificial intelligence (AI) could add $1 trillion to Southeast Asia's GDP, with Malaysia expected to account for US$115 billion of that total.
Microsoft is trying to increase its backing for AI development on a worldwide scale. This week, Nadella declared that Microsoft will establish its first regional data center in Thailand and revealed a $1.7 billion investment in Indonesia, a nearby country.
Microsoft announced a $2.1 billion commitment to build its AI and cloud infrastructure in Spain on February 20, marking another major investment in Europe. This investment comes after a separate three-billion-euro pledge made on February 15th to expand Germany's AI ecosystem.
As the European Union is ready to put its historic EU AI Act legislation into effect, major IT companies are investing in Europe to advance AI technology.
In February, the tech behemoth Google revealed its "AI Opportunity Initiative for Europe." The program entails giving 25 million euros, or 26.9 million dollars, to educate Europeans in the AI industry.
Google works with academic institutions, corporations, governments, and civil society throughout the EU to offer AI training to regional companies. It allots money to provide employees the necessary skills so they won't fall behind.
A similar project was started by the Italian government in 2023, allocating millions of euros to help workers who may lose their jobs due to automation and artificial intelligence improve their digital skills.
May 2024, Cryptoniteuae