Microsoft has officially announced its plans to establish a National Artificial Intelligence Excellence Center in Malaysia and enhance cybersecurity capabilities. As part of this initiative, the company will invest $2.2 billion in Malaysia over the next four years to expand cloud and AI services.
This investment marks the largest in Microsoft’s 32-year history in Malaysia and aims to propel the country forward in the fields of cloud and artificial intelligence. The key objectives of this investment include building a leading AI infrastructure, equipping 200,000 individuals with AI skills to create job opportunities, and providing support to local developers.
In addition, Microsoft will collaborate with the Malaysian government to establish the Artificial Intelligence Excellence Center and strengthen the country’s cybersecurity capabilities. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim emphasized that this investment aligns with Malaysia’s efforts to enhance its AI capabilities.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, during his visit to Kuala Lumpur, highlighted the tremendous contribution that artificial intelligence is expected to make to Southeast Asia’s economy by 2030. Research conducted by Kearney suggests that Malaysia is projected to gain $115 billion from AI by that time.
Microsoft is committed to the global development of AI and cloud technologies. In addition to the investment in Malaysia, the company recently announced a $1.7 billion investment in Indonesia and the opening of its first regional data center in Thailand. Furthermore, Microsoft has made a $2.1 billion investment in Spain to develop AI and cloud infrastructure and has committed three billion euros to enhance Germany’s AI ecosystem.
As the European Union prepares to implement the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, major tech companies are increasingly investing in AI in Europe. Google, for example, has launched the Artificial Intelligence Opportunity Initiative for Europe, which includes a 25 million Euro investment to enhance AI skills in the region. This initiative involves collaborations with local startups, as well as partnerships with EU governments, NGOs, academics, and businesses to equip workers with digital skills.
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