North News
New Delhi, January 8
Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella on Monday unveiled plans to invest $3 billion in India’s cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure over the next two years, including new data centers. The initiative seeks to accelerate AI innovation in alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India by 2047. The tech giant also announced its goal to train 10 million people in AI skills over five years as part of its ADVANTA(I)GE India program, aimed at boosting India’s global competitiveness.
“India is rapidly emerging as a leader in AI innovation, unlocking new opportunities nationwide,” Nadella said in an official statement. “These investments reaffirm our commitment to making India AI-first and ensuring broad benefits for its people and organizations.”
Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India and South Asia, highlighted the company’s role in integrating AI across sectors. “From boardrooms to classrooms, commerce to communities, and finance to farmers, Microsoft has been a copilot in India’s AI journey,” Chandok noted.
Microsoft emphasized its commitment to responsible AI, grounded in six principles: fairness, reliability, safety, privacy, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability. The company plans to expand its cloud and AI infrastructure, adding to its three existing datacenter regions in India, with a fourth set to go live by 2026.
This expansion is expected to create a scalable AI computing ecosystem to support India’s burgeoning AI start-ups and research community, positioning the nation as a global AI hub.
