Microsoft Announces $3 Billion Investment and Strategic Partnerships to Boost AI in India

Microsoft Signs Partnerships to Advance AI in Core Indian Sectors

Microsoft and Mahindra Group focus on AI across automotive, farming, and finance. Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella announced Cloud and AI-led partnerships with the Government of India and other companies across key sectors of the Indian economy during the Microsoft AI Tour in New Delhi on Wednesday. This follows the announcement made the day before that Microsoft plans to invest USD 3 billion in cloud and AI infrastructure in India over the next two years, including the establishment of new data centers. Also Read: Microsoft to Invest USD 3 Billion in India to Boost AI, Cloud, and Skilling: CEO The company aims to build a thriving AI ecosystem in India by supporting the government and industry in fostering AI innovation and enhancing productivity, efficiency and accessibility, Microsoft said. Puneet Chandok, president of Microsoft India and South Asia, said "The world is looking to India's leadership in AI, and our partners like RailTel, Apollo Hospitals, Bajaj Finserv, Mahindra Group and upGrad, are helping the country move forward with AI. At Microsoft, we are humbled by the confidence that our customers from across sectors of the Indian economy are putting in Microsoft Copilot, our cloud and AI solutions. We are also excited to work closely with the government to extend the benefits of the India AI mission to every corner of the country and democratize access to technology and resources." A recent IDC study commissioned by Microsoft showed AI usage in India jumped from 63 percent in 2023 to 72 percent in 2024. Most organizations in the country are now monetizing AI, with 79 percent using it for productivity and 66 percent for functional use cases, exceeding global averages. To further capitalize on the transformative potential of cloud and AI, Microsoft announced partnerships with five organizations across core sectors of the Indian economy on January 8, 2025. Through these partnerships, Microsoft aims to unlock additional productivity and efficiency gains while delivering business impact using its cloud, Copilot, and other AI solutions. RailTel and Microsoft have entered into a five-year strategic partnership to advance digital, cloud, and AI transformation in the Indian railways and public sector space. Microsoft will support RailTel in establishing an AI Center of Excellence (CoE), making RailTel an AI-first organization and a systems integrator (SI) partner. The partnership includes an organization-wide skilling initiative to train RailTel employees in digital, cloud, and AI technologies through Microsoft's AI National Skills Initiative and Enterprise Skilling Initiative. The two companies will co-develop AI solutions with Microsoft providing technical guidance on product roadmaps. Sanjai Kumar, Chairman and Managing director of RailTel, said, "Our partnership with Microsoft is a significant step towards enhancing the digital capabilities of the Indian public sector. By leveraging Microsoft's expertise in cloud, productivity, AI, and RailTel's resources and know-how, we aim to drive innovation and efficiency across various public sector and government entities. The AI Center of Excellence will play a pivotal role in this transformation, helping us deliver cutting-edge solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers." Also Read: IndiaAI and Microsoft Join Forces to Harness AI for Economic Transformation Apollo Hospitals' partnership with Microsoft will span co-innovation, joint product development, go-to-market, digital transformation and research on topics such as disease progression, genomics and multi-modal models to build world-class products and healthcare solutions. Microsoft will assist Apollo with its data strategy, engineering platform, and integrating AI to create new intellectual property (IP) that could be used in markets outside of India. According to Microsoft, four healthcare copilots (for clinicians, patients, nurses, and hospital operations) have already been identified to support this engagement. The partnership is also expected to develop and implement an AI roadmap for the 'Hospital of the Future', focusing on expanding Apollo's remote healthcare platform globally and co-innovating to create new health-tech solutions. Madhu Sasidhar, president and CEO of Apollo Hospitals, said, "At Apollo Hospitals, our strategic partnership with Microsoft marks a transformative step in redefining healthcare delivery. By collaborating on co-innovation, digital transformation, and cutting-edge research in areas like disease progression, genomics, and multi-modal models, we aim to develop world-class healthcare solutions. With Microsoft's support in data strategy, engineering, and AI integration, we are building new intellectual property that extends beyond India's borders. This partnership will accelerate the implementation of an AI roadmap for the 'Hospital of the Future,' enhancing patient outcomes, empowering caregivers, and expanding Apollo's global remote healthcare platform to set new benchmarks in health-tech innovation." Building on their 15-year relationship, Bajaj Finance Limited (BFL), part of Bajaj Finserv and Indian Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), and Microsoft have entered a partnership to enhance digital transformation aimed at delivering seamless, innovative, and secure experiences for Bajaj Finance's customer base. This partnership comes at a time when Bajaj Finance is transforming into a FinAI company, targeting a 200-million customer franchise. Bajaj Finance aims to leverage Microsoft Azure OpenAI services to achieve transformative outcomes, including increased conversion rates, back-office productivity, and front-line performance. The company is actively implementing AI use cases across workstreams, powered by Microsoft's AI technologies, with an expected annual cost saving of Rs 150 crore in FY26. Rajeev Jain, managing director of Bajaj Finance Ltd, said, "Bajaj Finance has always been an early adopter of technology. With the world on the threshold of an AI revolution, we are pivoting to a FinAI company by embracing AI-driven transformation. With our partnership with Microsoft, AI will integrate into our existing cloud, data, and digital infrastructure, resulting in sustained growth, lower costs, improved productivity, superior customer experience and robust controllership." Also Read: Bajaj Finance to Be a FinAI Company in Its Next Growth Phase Microsoft and Mahindra Group have joined forces to transform Automotive, Farm, and Financial Services with AI. The two companies plan to develop a range of AI projects, including agentic and multimodal scenarios for the Automotive division, chatbot solutions for the Farm and Tractors division, and multilingual capabilities for the Finance division. To accelerate this AI-driven transformation, Mahindra Group has established a dedicated AI Division. This unit will serve as an innovation hub and incubation center for AI solutions across Mahindra's businesses, generating intellectual property (IP) for external deployment. Microsoft will support these initiatives by providing engineering expertise, industrial AI experience, and workforce upskilling. Furthermore, Mahindra's AI Division plans to develop and offer specialized pre-trained models on the Azure Marketplace, extending these solutions to a broader ecosystem. Anish Shah, group CEO and managing director of Mahindra Group, said, "At Mahindra Group, we see technology as a catalyst for impactful change across industries and communities. Our partnership with Microsoft accelerates our vision to transform automotive, farming, and financial solutions through advanced AI. With our AI Division and close collaboration with Microsoft, we're driving a new era of innovation -- making our products smarter, services more intuitive, and customer experiences richer. This alliance reaffirms Mahindra's commitment to building a sustainable, inclusive future powered by technology." Also Read: Tech Mahindra and AWS Collaborate to Develop AI-Powered Network Operations Platform UpGrad and Microsoft have entered a three-year partnership to drive AI innovation and unlock the potential of AI in the skilling and higher education sectors. According to Microsoft, this collaboration will enable upGrad to certify its learners in AI training programs in association with Microsoft. Committed to equipping 1 million Indian STEM learners, including early- to mid-career professionals, with foundational and advanced AI skills by 2025, Microsoft says this initiative is set to be a game-changer for the country's digital economy. Leveraging Microsoft 365 Copilot, GitHub Copilot, and Azure OpenAI Service (AOAIS), upGrad will enhance teaching and learning outcomes for millions of learners across India and South Asia. GitHub Copilot also empowers upGrad's content developers, enabling them to create efficient and impactful learning materials, saving over 6,500 hours annually and improving code quality by 85 percent, Microsoft added. Ronnie Screwvala, co-founder and chairperson of upGrad, said: "India is primed to be the Creator's Economy, ready to play a part of skilled talent for the global workforce. Coupled with our demographic dividend, this now is an unparalleled opportunity realised by both corporate India and the small and medium scale sector that forms the breadth and depth of the Indian economy. AI is now clearly a modern-day workplace essential, and the partnership between Microsoft and upGrad will dwell into applications and the practical use of AI in the workplace. We are calling it the 'U&AI' initiative -- a robust upskilling machinery to connect individuals with AI, bringing innovation and end-users together for building a more equipped, efficient, and operationally sound workforce."

IndiaAI and Microsoft Join Forces to Harness AI for Economic Transformation

Microsoft's Founders Hub will support 1,000 AI startups with resources and mentorship. IndiaAI, a division under Digital India Corporation, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft to accelerate the adoption and development of artificial intelligence (AI) across India, the Ministry of Electronics and IT announced on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. The partnership aims to position India as a global leader in AI, focusing on skilling, innovation, and responsible AI practices. Also Read: Microsoft to Invest USD 3 Billion in India to Boost AI, Cloud, and Skilling: CEO Also Read: Google Announces AI Collaborations for Healthcare, Sustainability, and Agriculture in India Commenting on the partnership, Abhishek Singh, CEO, IndiaAI Mission said, "India AI Mission is being implemented by the Government of India with the objective of addressing key issues that can help India take the leadership in building applications using AI. This strategy focuses on building partnerships with Industry and Academia. "Towards this, the collaboration with Microsoft aligns with the core pillars of the IndiaAI Mission, focusing on skilling, innovation, and responsible AI development. By training 500,000 individuals, fostering innovation through AI Centers of Excellence, and delivering AI-driven solutions in critical sectors, we are advancing India's AI ecosystem. This partnership emphasizes inclusivity by empowering underserved communities, promoting ethical AI practices and supporting startups to drive economic growth. Together, we are committed to positioning India as a global AI leader and creating a sustainable and equitable future for all," Singh added. Also Read: IndiaAI and Meta Partner to Advance Open-Source AI Innovation, R&D and Skill Development Puneet Chandok, President, Microsoft India and South Asia highlighted, "This collaboration underscores Microsoft's commitment to copiloting India on its journey to become an AI-first nation. By skilling 500,000 individuals, establishing AI Centers of Excellence, and setting up AI Productivity Labs, we aim to democratize access to AI, empower communities, and foster innovation, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Together with India AI, we are dedicated to accelerating AI adoption and creating a sustainable future for all." "By prioritizing skilling, innovation, datasets and responsible AI practices, the collaboration aims to address citizen-scale challenges, foster entrepreneurship and build a robust AI ecosystem in India. By advancing AI innovation and adoption, the collaboration seeks to position India as a global leader in AI while driving inclusive and sustainable growth," the official release said.

Microsoft announces US $3bn investment over two years in India cloud and AI infrastructure to accelerate adoption of AI, skilling and innovation

Microsoft chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella, on stage at the Microsoft AI Tour in Bengaluru where he announced US $3 billion investment in India for cloud and AI infrastructure over the next two years. Microsoft shared a comprehensive plan to train and skill 10 million people by 2030, reinforcing its commitment to partnering with India on its journey to become an AI-first nation. Microsoft Research Lab launched an AI Innovation Network, a groundbreaking initiative designed to accelerate the transition from research to real, usable business solutions. Furthermore, Microsoft and SaaSBoomi have joined hands to propel India's AI and SaaS ecosystem towards a trillion-dollar economy, aiming to impact over 5,000 startups and 10,000 entrepreneurs. During his visit to India, Microsoft chairman and CEO Satya Nadella today announced the company's plans to invest US $3 billion in India in cloud and AI infrastructure and skilling over the next two years, including the establishment of new datacenters. This investment aims to accelerate AI innovation in India, which is pivotal for achieving Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of becoming a developed nation (Viksit Bharat) by 2047. Microsoft will also support the country's long-term competitiveness by training 10 million people over the next five years with AI skills, as part of the second edition of its ADVANTA(I)GE India program. Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO, Microsoft said, "India is rapidly becoming a leader in AI innovation, unlocking new opportunity across the country. The investments in infrastructure and skilling we are announcing today reaffirm our commitment to making India AI-first, and will help ensure people and organizations across the country benefit broadly." Puneet Chandok, president, Microsoft India and South Asia said, "In the last 12 months Microsoft has been a copilot to making AI a reality in India, taking it from boardrooms to classrooms, commerce to communities, and finance to farmers. Today's announcement strengthens our belief in India's potential and our resolve to equip the country with the resources and future-ready skills needed to excel in the global marketplace. We will continue to use AI to unlock possibilities for the next few decades and ensure communities across the country have access to the compute they need to prosper in the AI era." Making India AI-first and advancing AI responsibly Microsoft's approach to responsible AI is grounded in six core principles: fairness, reliability and safety, privacy and security, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability. This investment reflects Microsoft's expanding role and responsibility as a leader in AI. Microsoft is working to expand broad access to its AI technology that empowers organizations and individuals to develop and use AI in ways that will serve the public good. Microsoft will operate its AI services and infrastructure under Microsoft's AI Access Principles and in accordance with industry-leading responsible AI principles. Microsoft will expand its cloud and AI infrastructure across datacenter campuses in the country. Microsoft already has three datacenter regions in the market, and the fourth ready to go live in 2026. This investment aims to develop a scalable AI computing ecosystem to meet the growing demands of India's rapidly expanding AI start-ups and research community. ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA: Equipping 10 million Indians with essential AI skills by 2030 As the nature of jobs evolves, AI is becoming an essential skill for professionals. Indian professionals are leading the way in learning and skill-building on LinkedIn, spending nearly 50% more time on learning per week than the average professional. They have been early adopters of AI, with a 122% year-over-year increase in Indian members adding AI skills to their profiles, compared to 71% globally. In 2024, Microsoft launched the ADVANTA(I)GE India initiative with the ambitious goal of training two million people in AI skills by 2025. Demonstrating its commitment to enable equitable AI opportunity for every Indian, Microsoft has surpassed this target ahead of schedule with 2.4 million individuals trained in under a year. Notably, 65% of the participants were women, and 74% came from tier II and tier III cities, ensuring inclusive coverage across the entire country. Today, the company announced its next milestone, to equip 10 million more Indians with essential AI skills by 2030. ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA is part of Microsoft's Global Skills for Social Impact charter, and these trainings will be delivered in partnership with the government, nonprofit and corporate organizations, and communities. Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said, "India's vibrant youth and tech talent are key to shaping the future of AI. Through the 'AI for India' mission, we aim to empower citizens with cutting-edge AI skills, driving innovation, creating jobs, and bridging the digital divide. Collaborations with global leaders like Microsoft and similar companies are pivotal in this transformation. By equipping our workforce, especially women and youth, with advanced skills, we are building an AI-ready India, poised for digital leadership and sustainable economic growth." Fostering the AI Ecosystem in India for developers, startups and digital natives Microsoft Research (MSR) Lab today announced an AI Innovation Network to deepen its commitment to cultivate the AI ecosystem in India. Under the AI Innovation Network, MSR will build new collaborations, especially with digital natives, to accelerate the transition from research to real, usable business solutions. MSR India has already initiated a collaboration with Physics Wallah on math reasoning and is in ongoing discussions with other Digital Natives on topics such as causal inference, optimizing Indic LLMs, prompt optimization, and reinforcement learning. Prateek Maheshwari, co-founder, Physics Wallah said, "At Physics Wallah, we've always believed in the power of technology to transform education. Our collaboration with Microsoft Research is a step towards creating tools that understand and support each student's learning journey. By combining our expertise with Microsoft's advancements in AI and Large Language Models, we're working to make education more accessible, personalized, and impactful. We're working together to help and empower students in meaningful ways." MSR India has had a long history of both incubating startups (e.g. Digital Green in AI for agriculture and Everwell in healthcare) and open sourcing research technologies that have then been picked up by startups (e.g. Remidio in medical diagnostics and SoftX Technologies in transportation informatics). The new AI Innovation Network will help accelerate this through mutually beneficial engagement and research collaboration with select Digital Natives. These Digital Natives will gain access to MSR's cutting-edge research and expertise, while MSR will have the opportunity to deploy its research technologies at scale in partnership with these innovative companies. Microsoft also announced an AI MoU with SaaSBoomi, the premier community for B2B startups in India. This strategic collaboration aims to accelerate the growth of India's AI and SaaS ecosystem, making India a product nation and contributing to its trillion-dollar economy. By leveraging SaaSBoomi's extensive network and Microsoft's technological expertise, the partnership seeks to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, especially in tier II cities. Over the next five years, Microsoft and SaaSBoomi aim to impact over 5,000 startups and over 10,000 entrepreneurs, upskill more than 150,000 startup employees through focused workshops, foster regional development in 20+ tier II cities, create over 200,000 new job opportunities, and help attract an additional US $1.5 billion in venture capital funding for the Indian AI and SaaS ecosystem. Under the MoU, Microsoft will also support the emergence of more than 50 unicorns and soonicorns; driving advancements in innovation, sustainability, and technological infrastructure. Supporting communities and advancing AI sustainably Microsoft is also deeply invested in advancing the sustainability of AI and is addressing the resources needed to support responsible growth of AI infrastructure. Microsoft continues to take bold action on the path to be carbon negative, water positive, zero waste, and protect more land than it uses by 2030, all while empowering others with the technology needed to build a more sustainable future. Learn more in Microsoft's 2024 Sustainability Report. Microsoft contributes positively to local communities while advancing global digital transformation. These efforts reinforce its global Datacenter Community Pledge that recognizes its responsibility to be a good neighbor in India and elsewhere where Microsoft operates. For datacenters, this includes addressing the resources needed to power AI - mainly energy and water. The company also recently announced that its new datacenters will consume zero water for cooling. The new design does not rely on water evaporation, recycling water through a continuous closed-loop system. Microsoft has also secured renewable energy in India through long-term contracts with Amplus and ReNew, contributing to Microsoft's ambition to be carbon-negative by 2030. As part of the agreement with ReNew, approximately US $15 million of revenue from the contract will be directed towards a community fund to support environmental justice initiatives focusing on women's livelihoods and economic empowerment, energy access, rural electrification, environmental remediation and water quality improvement, and other concerns of communities disproportionately impacted by pollution and climate change. About Microsoft Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" @microsoft) creates platforms and tools powered by AI to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. The technology company is committed to making AI available broadly and doing so responsibly, with a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

Microsoft Partners With Government, Industry Leaders Over AI

Microsoft signed an MoU with India AI to advance the technology Microsoft announced its partnerships with the government and industry leaders over artificial intelligence (AI) on Wednesday. The announcement was made by company CEO Satya Nadella in New Delhi on day two of its AI Tour. On Tuesday, Nadella announced the tech giant's intentions to invest $3 billion (roughly Rs. 25,753 crores) in the country to develop AI infrastructure. The company also highlighted that India's AI usage increased significantly between 2023 and 2024 and it now exceeds global averages. In a newsroom post, the Redmond-based tech giant detailed the various partnerships signed by Microsoft. The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of India as well as companies such as RailTel, Apollo Hospitals, Bajaj Finserv, Mahindra Group, and upGrad. All of the partnerships focus on cloud and AI innovation. Citing an IDC study commissioned by Microsoft, the post claimed that India's AI usage jumped from 63 percent in 2023 to 72 percent in 2024. The company also claimed that many organisations were monetising AI, with 79 percent using it for productivity and 66 percent for functional use cases. Looking at this potential, the company today formally revealed the strategic partnerships it has made with various stakeholders in the country. Microsoft's MoU with India AI, a division of Digital India Corporation, focuses on collaboration to advance AI and emerging technologies in India. The two entities will provide AI-focused skills to 5,00,000 individuals including students, educators, developers, government officials, and women entrepreneurs, by 2026. Microsoft and India AI will also establish an AI Centre of Excellence dubbed 'AI Catalysts' to promote rural AI innovation and support 1,00,000 AI developers and innovators via hackathons, community-building solutions, and an AI-focused marketplace. Additionally, the duo will also set up AI Productivity Labs in 20 National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) in 10 states to provide foundational courses in AI to 20,000 educators. Apart from this, Microsoft also signed partnerships with RailTel focusing on digital, cloud, and AI advancement in the Indian railways and public sector space. With Apollo Hospitals, Microsoft will co-develop AI solutions and support digital transformation and research on topics such as disease progression, and genomics. The tech giant has joined hands with Mahindra Group to transform Automotive, Farm, and Financial Services with AI by developing a range of AI products.

Microsoft to Invest USD 3 Billion in India to Boost AI, Cloud, and Skilling: CEO

Fourth data center region to go live in 2026, ensuring scalable AI computing. Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella announced today the company's plan to invest USD 3 billion in India over the next two years. This investment will focus on cloud and AI infrastructure, skilling initiatives, and the establishment of new data centers. This investment aims to accelerate AI innovation in India, aligning with the Prime Minister's vision of becoming a developed nation (Viksit Bharat) by 2047 and includes new data centres, skilling programs, and support for startups, the company said. Also Read: Microsoft CEO Highlights the Human Impact of AI Across Sectors in 2024 "Microsoft will also support the country's long-term competitiveness by training 10 million people over the next five years with AI skills, as part of the second edition of its ADVANTA(I)GE India program," the company said on January 7, 2024. Satya Nadella remarked, "India is rapidly becoming a leader in AI innovation, unlocking new opportunity across the country. The investments in infrastructure and skilling we are announcing today reaffirm our commitment to making India AI-first, and will help ensure people and organizations across the country benefit broadly." Puneet Chandok, president of Microsoft India and South Asia, added, "In the last 12 months Microsoft has been a copilot to making AI a reality in India, taking it from boardrooms to classrooms, commerce to communities, and finance to farmers. Today's announcement strengthens our belief in India's potential and our resolve to equip the country with the resources and future-ready skills needed to excel in the global marketplace. We will continue to use AI to unlock possibilities for the next few decades and ensure communities across the country have access to the compute they need to prosper in the AI era." Also Read: Microsoft AI Solutions Drive Transformation for Over 200 Businesses: December 2024 Edition Microsoft emphasised its commitment to responsible AI, which is rooted in six core principles: fairness, reliability and safety, privacy and security, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability. "Microsoft is working to expand broad access to its AI technology that empowers organizations and individuals to develop and use AI in ways that will serve the public good." Microsoft currently operates three data center regions in India, with a fourth set to go live in 2026. According to the company, this new investment aims to develop a scalable AI computing ecosystem to meet the growing demands of India's rapidly expanding AI start-ups and research community. Under the ADVANTA(I)GE India program, Microsoft aims to train 10 million people in AI by 2030. It has already surpassed its initial goal of training 2.4 million people, with a majority from Tier 2 and 3 cities and 65 percent of participants being women. "As the nature of jobs evolves, AI is becoming an essential skill for professionals. Indian professionals are leading the way in learning and skill-building on LinkedIn, spending nearly 50 percent more time on learning per week than the average professional. They have been early adopters of AI, with a 122 percent year-over-year increase in Indian members adding AI skills to their profiles, compared to 71 percent globally," Microsoft reported. Additionally, Microsoft Research (MSR) Lab announced an AI Innovation Network to deepen its commitment to cultivate the AI ecosystem in India. Under the AI Innovation Network, MSR will build new collaborations, especially with digital natives, to accelerate the transition from research to real, usable business solutions. Microsoft said MSR India has already initiated a collaboration with Physics Wallah on math reasoning and is in ongoing discussions with other Digital Natives on topics such as causal inference, optimizing Indic LLMs, prompt optimisation, and reinforcement learning. Prateek Maheshwari, co-founder of Physics Wallah, commented, "At Physics Wallah, we've always believed in the power of technology to transform education. Our collaboration with Microsoft Research is a step towards creating tools that understand and support each student's learning journey. By combining our expertise with Microsoft's advancements in AI and Large Language Models, we're working to make education more accessible, personalized, and impactful. We're working together to help and empower students in meaningful ways." Microsoft also announced an AI memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SaaSBoomi, a community for B2B startups in India. "This collaboration with SaaSBoomi will accelerate India's AI and SaaS ecosystem, making India a product nation and contributing to its trillion-dollar economy," the company said. "Over the next five years, Microsoft and SaaSBoomi aim to impact over 5,000 startups and over 10,000 entrepreneurs, upskill more than 150,000 startup employees through focused workshops, foster regional development in 20+ tier 2 cities, create over 200,000 new job opportunities, and help attract an additional USD 1.5 billion in venture capital funding for the Indian AI and SaaS ecosystem," Microsoft added. Also Read: Microsoft Says AI Demand Continues to Exceed Its Available Capacity The company also recently announced that its new datacenters will consume zero water for cooling. The new design does not rely on water evaporation, recycling water through a continuous closed-loop system. Microsoft has also secured renewable energy in India through long-term contracts with Amplus and ReNew, contributing to Microsoft's ambition to be carbon-negative by 2030. Microsoft said, under its agreement with ReNew, approximately USD 15 million of revenue from the contract will be directed towards a community fund to support environmental justice initiatives focusing on women's livelihoods and economic empowerment, energy access, rural electrification, environmental remediation and water quality improvement, and other concerns of communities disproportionately impacted by pollution and climate change.

Microsoft backs its $3B AI push in India with public and private sector deals | TechCrunch

Microsoft announced a sweeping series of artificial intelligence partnerships across India's core sectors on Wednesday, a day after pledging to invest $3 billion in the country over the next two years as it intensifies competition with rivals Google and Amazon. The tech giant's chief executive Satya Nadella (pictured above) unveiled agreements with five major organizations spanning railways, healthcare, financial services, manufacturing and education. This includes an agreement with the Indian Ministry of Electronics and IT, as part of which Microsoft will contribute to the ministry's IndiaAI Mission Datasets platform by supporting data collection and synthetic generation. The company will also train 500,000 people in AI technologies by 2026, and the two will also establish an AI Center of Excellence, called AI Catalysts, to promote rural AI innovation and set up AI labs in 20 national skill training institutes. RailTel, a government-backed firm, has struck a five-year partnership with Microsoft to advance "digital, cloud and AI transformation" in the Indian railways. Apollo Hospitals plans to develop AI "copilots" for healthcare services. Bajaj Finance, India's largest non-banking financial company, expects annual cost savings of $18 million by 2026 through AI implementations. Edtech startup Upgrad will work with Microsoft to build applications for use of AI in the workplace. The push comes as Google and Amazon are racing to broaden their AI offerings and court Indian businesses, and Nvidia strikes deals to supply AI chips to India's largest companies. In October, Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang announced partnerships with Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries to build AI infrastructure. The chip designer also signed deals with Tata Communications and Yotta Data Services to deploy thousands of its H100 chips. Google, which has operated in India for over two decades, recently introduced new AI-powered tools for Indian merchants that allows them to build their digital presence.

Microsoft to Invest $3 Billion in India for AI and Cloud Growth

Microsoft plans to invest $3 billion in India in the cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and AI skilling over the next two years, the company's CEO Satya Nadella annouced during his visit to the country. "Microsoft will also support the country's long-term competitiveness by training 10 million people over the next five years with AI skills," the company said in a press release announcing the development. This is a part of the second edition of its ADVANTA(I)GE India program, the company had started this program back in 2024 with the goal of training 2 million people in the country in AI. Besides the investments, Microsoft's Research (MSR) Lab has also announced an AI Innovation Network in India. As a part of this network, MRS will build new collaborations with Indian businesses to "accelerate the transition from research to real usable business solutions." The company is already working with Physics Wallah on math reasoning and other companies on topics such as causal inference, optimizing Indic LLMs, prompt optimization, and reinforcement learning. Microsoft mentions that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the software as a service (SaaS) community Boomi. As a part of this collaboration, the two will seek to "upskill more than 150,000 startup employees through focused workshops, foster regional development in 20+ tier II cities, create over 200,000 new job opportunities, and help attract an additional US $1.5 billion in venture capital funding for the Indian AI and SaaS ecosystem." This isn't the first time Microsoft has collaborated with AI projects in India. In February last year, the company began working with generative AI startup Sarvam AI to make its Indic voice large language model (LLM) available on Azure. It also worked with the Shiksha Foundation to create Shiksha Copilot to help teachers develop a complete lesson plan with engaging content quicker. Besides this, the company also released a blueprint of AI governance in India back in 2023, which detailed how India should go about framing laws, policies, and regulations for ensuring accountability of AI systems framing laws, policies, and regulations for ensuring accountability of AI systems.

Microsoft announces a $3bn AI investment in India

The company also announced a range of plans to train and develop the AI ecosystem in the country. Microsoft has announced a $3bn investment in India focused on cloud and AI infrastructure. The investment, revealed by company chairperson and CEO Satya Nadella in Bengaluru, India, today (7 January), will be spread over the next two years and establish new data centres the country. Moreover, according to the software giant's latest announcement, Microsoft will also aim to upskill 10m Indians in AI by 2030 as part of its ADVANTA(I)GE programme. "India is rapidly becoming a leader in AI innovation, unlocking new opportunity across the country," said Nadella. "The investments in infrastructure and skilling we are announcing today reaffirm our commitment to making India AI-first, and will help ensure people and organisations across the country benefit broadly." Microsoft employs more than 20,000 people in India and operates three data centre campuses in the country, and according to the company, its fourth Indian data centre is set to be launched by 2026. The company's ADVANTA(I)GE programme was launched in India in 2024 as part of its Global Skills for Social Impact charter and sought to skill 2m Indians in AI by 2025. Its second iteration announced today, follows a successful first edition which surpassed its target, upskilling 2.4m Indians in under a year. Moreover, Microsoft Research Lab, the company's research subsidiary announced an AI Innovation Network with the aim of expanding collaborations with businesses in the country. The collaborative research efforts will provide businesses with access to the Lab's research and expertise while allowing Microsoft to deploy its technologies through the companies. Meanwhile, Microsoft also announced an AI memorandum of understanding with SaasBoomi, a B2B startup community in the country. According to the company, Microsoft and SaaSBoomi aim to impact more than 5,000 startups and 10,000 entrepreneurs and upskill more than 150,000 startup employees through focused workshops over the next five years. Puneet Chandok, the president of Microsoft India and South Asia said: "In the last 12 months Microsoft has been a copilot to making AI a reality in India, taking it from boardrooms to classrooms, commerce to communities, and finance to farmers. "Today's announcement strengthens our belief in India's potential and our resolve to equip the country with the resources and future-ready skills needed to excel in the global marketplace. "We will continue to use AI to unlock possibilities for the next few decades and ensure communities across the country have access to the compute they need to prosper in the AI era." Yesterday (6 January), Digital Edge, a Singapore-based data centre company announced that it raised more than $1.6bn to meet the increasing cloud and AI demand across the Asia-Pacific region. Don't miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic's digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.

Microsoft announces record US$3 billion India AI investment

Amid growing investments in India's AI sector, Microsoft has announced plans to invest US$3 billion in the country. This substantial investment aims to enhance AI capabilities and expand the reach of Azure services across India. According to Reuters and Bloomberg, at a January 7, 2025 event in Bangalore, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced that the company intends to invest US$3 billion to enhance its cloud computing and artificial intelligence capacities in India. This strategic move capitalizes on India's significant potential in the AI market owing to its vast population of 1.4 billion and its strong software capabilities, which position the country as a major provider of AI solutions. Describing the investment as the "single largest expansion" in the country, Nadella also revealed plans to train 10 million people in AI by 2030, adding that the AI diffusion rate in India is exciting. During his previous visit to India in February 2024, Nadella highlighted Microsoft's commitment to supporting India's transformation into an AI-first country. At the time, he announced that Microsoft would provide 2 million people in India with AI skilling opportunities by 2025 through its ADVANT(I)GE India initiative. India is one of the leading global economies that is investing significantly in AI to maintain its competitive edge. The country's focus on AI development comes as the demand for sovereign AI intensifies amid growing security concerns. In 2024, India announced an INR103.72 billion (US$1.25 billion) IndiaAI Mission. The mission includes the IndiaAI Compute Capacity, which involves deploying over 10,000 GPUs through strategic partnerships between the government and private sector. Microsoft is not alone in investing in India amid the global AI surge. At the Nvidia AI Summit India in October 2024, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang remarked that India possesses the fundamental ingredients to create its AI flywheel. He highlighted that India benefits from a very large population of users and significant computer science expertise, along with having its data. "You exported software, and in the future, India is going to export AI," Huang emphasized.

Microsoft Bets Big on India with $3 Billion AI and Cloud Investment

Microsoft Commits to Expanding AI and Cloud Infrastructure in India Tech giant Microsoft has announced a significant $3 billion plan to enhance its AI and Azure Cloud computing initiatives in India, highlighting the country's vital role as a technology hub. This announcement by CEO Satya Nadella marks the largest investment the company has ever made in the region. Given that India's population is over 1.4 billion people and the internet is relatively cheap, the country has emerged to be of great interest to new technologies originating from the United States. Lately, several top executives have come to India; Nvidia's CEO, Jensen Huang, and Meta AI's head, Yann LeCun, are examples of this, which may point to the industry increasingly viewing India as a future growth market. Nadella pointed out that the investment is meant to strengthen the foundations of the AI future and improve Azure-cloud services in India. Moreover, the company aims to teach 10 million people artificial intelligence skills by 2030. This lofty goal comes after Nadella promised in 2022 to offer 2 million people in Tier 2 cities and rural areas afforestation training by 2025. This beefed-up commitment shows the company's stewardship to the goal of creating a more inclusive digital environment. During Nadella's visit to India, he held a meeting with Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, where they discussed Microsoft's plans and scope, artificial intelligence, and technology. This investment plan has been planned faithfully as India's growth by Microsoft for AI and Cloud complies with the government's vision of a digitally advanced society. In this regard, this shift is a part of Microsoft's more extensive global endeavor to enhance landscape coverage of data centers and fortify the Artificial Intelligence ecosystem. Last week the company unveiled its plans to spend $80 billion worldwide in the fiscal year ending in 2025, of which over $40 billion will be spent in the United States. These investments are targeted to attend to the development of more sophisticated models in AI and use of new cloud applications. India's robust digital infrastructure and talent pool make it a critical component of Microsoft's global expansion. The $3 billion initiative will accelerate the nation's digital transformation, enhance AI capabilities, and foster innovation across sectors. As India solidifies its position as a global tech leader, Microsoft's commitment signals a significant step toward empowering the next generation of AI and cloud professionals.

Microsoft Announces $3 Billion Investment to Expand Azure in India

Microsoft will train 10 million people in AI by 2030 as a part of its ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA initiative. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced Microsoft's largest investment in India yet, a $3 billion commitment to expand Azure's infrastructure in the country, at the Microsoft AI Tour in Bengaluru on Tuesday. The investment will scale Microsoft's regional cloud infrastructure to bolster AI and computing capabilities. Emphasising the importance of infrastructure for AI innovation, Nadella said, "AI doesn't sit on its own; it requires the entire compute stack." He highlighted that Microsoft has built over 60 regions and 300 data centres worldwide, including existing regions in Central India, South India, and West India. The additional investment is set to scale up Microsoft's data centre operations across India. Speaking about the importance of infrastructure in AI development, Nadella said, "Infrastructure needs to be the highest priority, and we are innovating at every layer of it." Moreover, Microsoft will train 10 million people in AI by 2030 as a part of its ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA initiative. Microsoft recently announced that it is projected to invest approximately $80 billion in FY 2025 globally to establish AI-enabled data centres for training AI models and deploying AI and cloud applications worldwide. Nadella also shared insights from his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who discussed India's vision for an AI-driven future. Nadella praised the synergy between India's AI mission, the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and its demographics, describing them as elements of a "virtuous cycle". "Thank you, PM Narendra Modi ji, for your leadership. Excited to build on our commitment to making India AI-first and work together on our continued expansion in the country to ensure every Indian benefits from this AI platform shift," Nadella said in a post on X. "It was indeed a delight to meet you, Satya Nadella! Glad to know about Microsoft's ambitious expansion and investment plans in India. It was also wonderful discussing various aspects of tech, innovation and AI in our meeting," PM Modi replied. Moreover, the CEO outlined a new metric for evaluating AI and compute efficiency, which he described as "tokens per dollar per watt". Linking this to broader economic growth, he said, "Two years from now, five years from now, 10 years from now, we will be talking about the correlation between GDP growth and how efficiently communities and industries drive that equation." As part of its expansion, Microsoft plans to integrate renewable energy and advanced engineering practices to make its data centres more sustainable. Nadella highlighted innovations such as liquid-cooled AI accelerators, zero-waste construction, and zero-water usage facilities. Nadella is currently touring India as part of the Microsoft AI Tour, where he spoke in Bengaluru on January 7 and will also speak in Delhi on January 8. Last week, he met with Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao in Hyderabad to discuss the state's technology priorities, including AI, generative AI, and cloud development. Microsoft India employs over 20,000 people across 10 cities, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Gurugram, Delhi, Noida, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune, with Hyderabad alone accounting for half the workforce at 10,000 employees. For the fiscal year ending March 30, Microsoft's India business posted a 38.44% increase in net profit year over year, driven by the steady growth in cloud adoption and AI.

India to Become a Leader in AI Innovation: Satya Nadella on Investing for Tech Innovations and Skilling

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Microsoft chairman and CEO Satya Nadella announced a USD three billion investment for cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) to empower India- the tech giant's largest expansion in the country over the next two years. "India is rapidly becoming a leader in AI innovation, unlocking new opportunities across the country," said Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO, Microsoft. "In India, we are excited about all the regions that we have. We have Central India, South India, West India, and South Central India. We also have the capacities that we built up with Jio. We have a lot of regional expansion happening." LinkedIn data reveals that Indian professionals are leading in learning and skill-building. Having been early adopters of AI, there has been a 122 per cent year-over-year increase in native members adding AI skills to their profiles, against 71 per cent worldwide. Microsoft launched ADVANTA(I)GE India initiative in 2024 with the aim to train two million people by 2025- a figure already achieved with 2.4 million individuals being trained in under a year. Sixty-five per cent of participants are women while 74 per cent hail from tier II and tier III Indian cities. Addressing an audience during the Microsoft AI Tour, Nadella also shared plans to train 10 million people in AI skills in India by 2030. Talking about GitHub, he shared that Indian developers comprised 17 million users on the platform- a rise of 28 per cent Y-o-Y. India is expected to overtake the United States by 2028 as the largest developer community. The country stands second to the US with 30,594 contributors to genAI projects. The announcement comes after the chairman met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday in New Delhi. "Thank you, PM @narendramodi ji for your leadership. Excited to build on our commitment to making India AI-first and work together on our continued expansion in the country to ensure every Indian benefit from this AI platform shift," Nadella posted on X.

Microsoft to Invest $3 Billion in Cloud and AI Infrastructure in India | PYMNTS.com

Microsoft said it will invest $3 billion to build cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure in India over the next two years, aiming to help the country become an "AI-first nation." The company also plans to train 10 million people in AI skills by 2030 and launch an AI Innovation Network in India, Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella said during the Microsoft AI Tour in Bengaluru, according to a Tuesday (Jan. 7) press release. "India is rapidly becoming a leader in AI innovation, unlocking new opportunity across the country," Nadella said in the release. "The investments in infrastructure and skilling we are announcing today reaffirm our commitment to making India AI-first and will help ensure people and organizations across the country benefit broadly." Microsoft's investment in infrastructure aims to meet the needs of India's growing AI startups and research community, according to the release. The company already has three data centers in the country and plans to launch a fourth in 2026. The company's plan to equip another 10 million Indians with AI skills by 2030 will build upon its ADVANTA(I)GE India initiative that launched in 2024 and trained 2.4 million people in less than a year, the release said. Microsoft's other newly announced initiative, the AI Innovation Network, will see Microsoft Research (MSR) Lab increase its efforts to cultivate the AI ecosystem in India, build new collaborations, and help startups move from research to usable business solutions, per the release. "In the last 12 months, Microsoft has been a copilot to making AI a reality in India, taking it from boardrooms to classrooms, commerce to communities, and finance to farmers," Puneet Chandok, president of Microsoft India and South Asia, said in the release. "Today's announcement strengthens our belief in India's potential and our resolve to equip the country with the resources and future-ready skills needed to excel in the global marketplace." The announcement came a day after the White House and the Indian Prime Minister's Office announced several commitments to strengthen a strategic technology partnership between the United States and India. The commitments include plans to build new collaboration around AI via investments and protections involving the technology.

Microsoft Bets Big On India's AI Future With $3B Investment - Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)

Microsoft plans to equip 10 million people in India with cloud and AI skills by 2030. Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO of Microsoft Corp. MSFT, said the company is planning a major $3 billion investment in India, aimed at boosting cloud and AI infrastructure over the next two years. This initiative will include establishing new data centers and equipping 10 million Indians with essential AI skills by 2030. Microsoft's project aligns with India's AI-first vision, supporting its transition into a developed nation by 2047. During his visit to Bengaluru, Nadella also revealed Microsoft's AI Innovation Network, a pioneering effort to bridge research and real-world business applications. Also Read: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Says Company Losing Money On ChatGPT Pro Plan "India is rapidly becoming a leader in AI innovation, unlocking new opportunity across the country," Nadella remarked. Microsoft already has three datacenter regions in the market, and the fourth ready to go live in 2026. The initiative is expected to foster collaborations with digital natives, startups, and academic institutions, helping to accelerate AI adoption across India. Microsoft's partnership with SaaSBoomi, a key player in India's SaaS ecosystem, aims to impact 5,000 startups and train over 10,000 entrepreneurs, promoting sustainable economic growth. Also Read: AMD Boosts India Presence With $400 Million Investment, Supercomputers For Weather Forecasting Microsoft has been expanding its presence in India, where AI adoption is surging. The company will continue its collaboration with government and nonprofit organizations through its ADVANTA(I)GE India program, which has already exceeded its initial goal of training 2 million people in AI by 2025. In the past year, over 65% of those trained were women, and 74% came from tier II and III cities. Price Action: MSFT shares are trading lower by 0.38% at $426.23 at the last check Tuesday. Read Next: Microsoft Highlights 6 AI Trends For 2025 Photo: QubixStudio/Shutterstock.com. This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Microsoft reveals billion-dollar cloud and AI investment plan in India

The news was confirmed yesterday by CEO Satya Nadella, who said the money would be available over the course of the next two years. Microsoft's investment will help support the country's goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, and includes a large-scale AI upskilling effort destined to support 10 million citizens over the next five years. "The investments in infrastructure and skilling we are announcing today reaffirm our commitment to making India AI-first, and will help ensure people and organizations across the country benefit broadly," Nadella commented. Separate from this announcement, Microsoft already has plans to open a fourth data center in India by 2026. The company also launched its ADVANTA(I)GE India initiative last year, committing to upskill two million citizens with AI skills by 2025. In the end, 2.4 million benefited from the scheme. Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, added: "Collaborations with global leaders like Microsoft and similar companies are pivotal in this transformation. By equipping our workforce, especially women and youth, with advanced skills, we are building an AI-ready India, poised for digital leadership and sustainable economic growth." The company has also announced a partnership with SaaSBoomi, through which it hopes to support 5,000 startups and 10,000 entrepreneurs with focused workshops, regional development and new job prospects. Speaking about the investment, Microsoft India and South Asia President Puneet Chandok concluded: "Today's announcement strengthens our belief in India's potential and our resolve to equip the country with the resources and future-ready skills needed to excel in the global marketplace."

Microsoft announces $3 bn AI investment in India

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Tuesday said the company plans to invest $3 billion in India on artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud infrastructure over the next two years. The world's most populous country has become a key AI battleground in the last few years, as US tech giants look to find new users for their services and tap into fresh pools of talent. In recent months, top executives including Nvidia boss Jensen Huang and Meta's chief AI scientist Yann LeCun have visited India. On Tuesday, Nadella said the $3 billion investment would include the setting up of new data centers. "India is rapidly becoming a leader in AI innovation, unlocking new opportunity across the country," Nadella said. "The investments in infrastructure and skilling we are announcing today reaffirm our commitment to making India AI-first, and will help ensure people and organizations across the country benefit broadly." The global embrace of AI has boosted sales of Microsoft's key cloud services, which have become the core of its business under Nadella's leadership. The announcement comes less than a week after Microsoft president Brad Smith said the company was on track to invest $80 billion in AI this fiscal year. Microsoft was on pace to invest about $80 billion this year to build out AI datacentres, train AI models and deploy cloud-based applications around the world, according to Smith. "The United States is poised to stand at the forefront of this new technology wave, especially if it doubles down on its strengths and effectively partners internationally," he said in an online post.

Microsoft Plans $3 Bn Investment In India To Expand AI, Cloud Infra Microsoft Plans $3 Bn Investment In India To Expand AI, Cloud Infra

Microsoft has also announced an MoU with SaaS collective SaaSBoomi to impact over 5,000 startups and over 10,000 entrepreneurs Microsoft is planning to invest $3 Bn (around INR 25,724 Cr) in India to expand its AI and cloud capabilities.This also marks the company's largest-ever expansion in the country. The investment was announced today (January 7) by Microsoft chairman and CEO Satya Nadella. "India is rapidly becoming a leader in AI innovation, unlocking new opportunities across the country. The investments in infrastructure and skilling we are announcing today reaffirm our commitment to making India AI-first, and will help ensure people and organizations across the country benefit broadly," he said. The additional investment is set to scale up Microsoft's data centre operations across India. The company also aims to train 10 Mn people by 2030 with AI skills as a part of its ADVANTA(I)GE INDIA initiative launched last year. Microsoft has also announced an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with SaaS collective SaaSBoomi and over the next five years, both of them aim to impact over 5,000 startups and over 10,000 entrepreneurs, upskill more than 150,000 startup employees through focused workshops, foster regional development in more than 20 tier II cities, create over 200,000 new job opportunities, and help attract an additional $1.5 Bn in venture capital funding for the Indian AI and SaaS ecosystem.

Microsoft announces $3 bn AI investment in India

Mumbai (AFP) - Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Tuesday said the company plans to invest $3 billion in India on artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud infrastructure over the next two years. The world's most populous country has become a key AI battleground in the last few years, as US tech giants look to find new users for their services and tap into fresh pools of talent. In recent months, top executives including Nvidia boss Jensen Huang and Meta's chief AI scientist Yann LeCun have visited India. On Tuesday, Nadella said the $3 billion investment would include the setting up of new data centres. "India is rapidly becoming a leader in AI innovation, unlocking new opportunity across the country," Nadella said. "The investments in infrastructure and skilling we are announcing today reaffirm our commitment to making India AI-first, and will help ensure people and organisations across the country benefit broadly." The global embrace of AI has boosted sales of Microsoft's key cloud services, which have become the core of its business under Nadella's leadership. The announcement comes less than a week after Microsoft president Brad Smith said the company was on track to invest $80 billion in AI this fiscal year. Microsoft was on pace to invest about $80 billion this year to build out AI datacentres, train AI models and deploy cloud-based applications around the world, according to Smith. "The United States is poised to stand at the forefront of this new technology wave, especially if it doubles down on its strengths and effectively partners internationally," he said in an online post.

Microsoft's Nadella Pledges $3 Billion India AI Investment

Nadella also met with India's PM Narendra Modi during his India visit Microsoft Corp. plans to spend $3 billion (roughly Rs. 25,752 crore) to expand its cloud computing and artificial intelligence capabilities in India, targeting the world's most populous country to fuel its revenue growth. Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella pledged the investment over two years on Tuesday at an event in Bangalore, southern India, addressing a crowd of startup founders and executives from tech firms such as Wipro Ltd. and Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. The country of 1.4 billion people is emerging as an AI battlefront, with CEOs from Nvidia Corp.'s Jensen Huang to Advanced Micro Devices Inc.'s Lisa Su visiting in the past months. India, with millions of programmers and home to technology services providers such as Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. and Infosys Ltd., holds one of the world's largest AI talent pools. "The diffusion rate of AI in India is exciting," Nadella said. On Monday, Nadella posted a photo online from his meeting with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Excited to build on our commitment to making India AI-first," he said on X. The prime minister responded, saying he is "glad to know about Microsoft's ambitious expansion and investment plans in India." Under Nadella's stewardship, Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft has been driving to commercialise AI. Last week, the company announced plans to invest $80 billion (roughly Rs. 6,86,733 crore) in building data centers, which provide critical infrastructure for businesses to deploy AI systems and tools. The tech giant has already made major investments in India -- Nadella's native country -- employing more than 23,000 people in cities including the technology hubs of Bangalore and Hyderabad. The CEO said Tuesday Microsoft is committed to giving AI training to 10 million people in the country by 2030. © 2025 Bloomberg L.P.

Microsoft's Nadella Pledges $3 Billion India AI Investment

(Bloomberg) -- Sign up for the India Edition newsletter by Menaka Doshi - an insider's guide to the emerging economic powerhouse, and the billionaires and businesses behind its rise, delivered weekly. Microsoft Corp. plans to spend $3 billion to expand its cloud computing and artificial intelligence capabilities in India, targeting the world's most populous country to fuel its revenue growth. Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella pledged the investment over two years on Tuesday at an event in Bangalore, southern India, addressing a crowd of startup founders and executives from tech firms such as Wipro Ltd. and Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. The country of 1.4 billion people is emerging as an AI battlefront, with CEOs from Nvidia Corp.'s Jensen Huang to Advanced Micro Devices Inc.'s Lisa Su visiting in the past months. India, with millions of programmers and home to technology services providers such as Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. and Infosys Ltd., holds one of the world's largest AI talent pools. Subscribe to the Bloomberg Daybreak podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen. "The diffusion rate of AI in India is exciting," Nadella said. On Monday, Nadella posted a photo online from his meeting with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Excited to build on our commitment to making India AI-first," he said on X. The prime minister responded, saying he is "glad to know about Microsoft's ambitious expansion and investment plans in India." Under Nadella's stewardship, Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft has been driving to commercialize AI. Last week, the company announced plans to invest $80 billion in building data centers, which provide critical infrastructure for businesses to deploy AI systems and tools. The tech giant has already made major investments in India -- Nadella's native country -- employing more than 23,000 people in cities including the technology hubs of Bangalore and Hyderabad. The CEO said Tuesday Microsoft is committed to giving AI training to 10 million people in the country by 2030. --With assistance from Newley Purnell. (Updates with time frame for investment in second paragraph.)

Microsoft Commits $3 Billion to Boost Cloud and AI Infrastructure in India

During his visit to India, Microsoft chairman and CEO Satya Nadella announced the company's plans to invest US $3 billion in India in cloud and AI infrastructure and skilling over the next two years, including the establishment of new datacenters. This investment aims to accelerate AI innovation in India, which is pivotal for achieving Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of becoming a developed nation (Viksit Bharat) by 2047. Microsoft will also support the country's long-term competitiveness by training 10 million people over the next five years with AI skills, as part of the second edition of its ADVANTA(I)GE India program.

Microsoft Plans to Invest $3 Billion on AI, Cloud Infrastructure in India

Microsoft plans to spend $3 billion over the next two years to expand its cloud and artificial-intelligence infrastructure in India, the latest in a string of investment pledges by U.S. tech giants amid booming AI computing needs. Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella said at an event in Bengaluru, India, on Tuesday that the investment marks the company's single largest expansion in the country to date. The company plans to grow the company's Azure cloud business in India and set up new data centers. It is also aiming to train 10 million locals with AI skills by 2030. Nadella made the announcement as part of his visit to the country. He had met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday and discussed the company's investment plans. The U.S. company currently has three data-center clusters in India, with a fourth in the works, as well as capacity built with telecommunications company Jio, a subsidiary of Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries, according to Microsoft. The company plans to invest $80 billion in AI data centers in its current fiscal year ending in June, according to a blog post by Microsoft President Brad Smith last Friday. Spending $80 billion on data centers would continue the trajectory set in Microsoft's first quarter that ended last September, when it spent $20 billion on capital expenditures and leases, primarily for data centers. Revenue for the tech giant's Azure cloud business--a core element of its AI offering--rose 33% in its fiscal first quarter.

Microsoft announces $3 bn AI investment in India - VnExpress International

The world's most populous country has become a key AI battleground in the last few years, as US tech giants look to find new users for their services and tap into fresh pools of talent. In recent months, top executives including Nvidia boss Jensen Huang and Meta's chief AI scientist Yann LeCun have visited India. On Tuesday, Nadella said the $3 billion investment would include the setting up of new data centres. "India is rapidly becoming a leader in AI innovation, unlocking new opportunity across the country," Nadella said. "The investments in infrastructure and skilling we are announcing today reaffirm our commitment to making India AI-first, and will help ensure people and organizations across the country benefit broadly." The global embrace of AI has boosted sales of Microsoft's key cloud services, which have become the core of its business under Nadella's leadership. The announcement comes less than a week after Microsoft president Brad Smith said the company was on track to invest $80 billion in AI this fiscal year. Microsoft was on pace to invest about $80 billion this year to build out AI datacentres, train AI models and deploy cloud-based applications around the world, according to Smith. "The United States is poised to stand at the forefront of this new technology wave, especially if it doubles down on its strengths and effectively partners internationally," he said in an online post.

Microsoft's Nadella Pledges $3 Billion AI Investment in India

Sign up for the India Edition newsletter by Menaka Doshi - an insider's guide to the emerging economic powerhouse, and the billionaires and businesses behind its rise, delivered weekly. Microsoft Corp. plans to spend $3 billion to expand its cloud computing and artificial intelligence capabilities in India, targeting the world's most populous country to fuel its revenue growth.

Microsoft to pump $3 billion into cloud and AI push in India

Manish Singh is a senior reporter at TechCrunch, covering India's startup scene and venture capital investments. He also reports on global tech firms' India play. Before joining TechCrunch in 2019, Singh wrote for about a dozen publications, including CNBC and VentureBeat. He graduated in Computer Science and Engineering in 2015. He is reachable on manish(at)techcrunch(dot)com.