Microsoft is expected to spend $80 billion on the data centers needed to train and run artificial intelligence by the end of the fiscal year, President Brad Smith said in a blog post Friday.
According to Smith, more than half of the investments will be made in the United States. In addition to private investment in AI, public sector support is important, Smith said.
He said government regulations on technology will play an important role in supporting U.S. companies in other countries.
“Microsoft (MSFT) plans to spend about $80 billion on data centers that power artificial intelligence in the current fiscal year”wrote Brad Smith who also urged new President Donald Trump to invest in “a golden opportunity” for the country’s economy.
Smith said the United States is leading a “world-changing” technology boom thanks to technology companies, chip suppliers and software developers collaborating on AI. Microsoft will maintain that momentum by investing more than half of the $80 billion earmarked for U.S. data centers, Smith said.
The announcement comes as U.S. tech companies invest trillions in the data centers that AI relies on and pursue nuclear energy to power them.
“Today, the United States is leading the global race for artificial intelligence thanks to private capital investments and innovations from American companies of all sizes, from dynamic start-ups to established companies”Smith said.
But the country can better take advantage of this emerging technology if the government, education system and nonprofit sector also contribute to ushering in the age of artificial intelligence, Smith said. He urged the Trump administration to increase the amount of funding available for artificial intelligence research and develop a “national talent strategy” to train Americans in this technology.
Smith also asked the administration to examine how regulating artificial intelligence could affect the prospects of U.S. companies abroad as competition with rival companies in China intensifies.
Morocco
