Microsoft unveils $10 billion Japan investment to build AI infrastructure and train engineers

Microsoft Drafts $10 Billion Investment Plan in AI-Hungry Japan

Microsoft Corp. announced a four-year, $10 billion investment package in Japan, part of the US company's Asia-wide push to expand in a region hungry for artificial intelligence services. The world's largest software maker will develop AI infrastructure alongside Sakura Internet Inc. and telecom operator SoftBank Corp., with the two Japanese entities supplying graphics processing units and other computing resources, according to a statement. As part of the package, Microsoft, whose Copilot has struggled to keep pace with OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini, will invest in cybersecurity partnerships and train a million AI engineers through 2029. The plan will keep data processing within Japan's borders, it said in a release that coincided with its President Brad Smith's meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Friday. The Redmond, Washington-based company is battling Amazon.com Inc. and Alphabet Inc. for dominance in Japan, which is spending billions to develop a robust AI ecosystem and catch up to the US and China. Microsoft's commitment in Japan follows similar announcements earlier this week in Singapore and Thailand, as well as a pledge in 2024 to spend about $2.9 billion in Japan over two years. But US hyperscalers' planned outlays of about $650 billion this year alone to build out power-guzzling data centers are coming up against global power constraints, as the war in the Middle East enters its second month. Resource-poor Japan relies on the Middle East for more then 90% of its oil and is already turning to less-efficient coal-fired power plants to make sure it can meet existing energy needs. Still, Japan's government is earmarking about ¥1.23 trillion ($7.7 billion) to support cutting-edge chips and AI development this fiscal year. It seeks to use the country's leadership in industrial robotics to win a more than 30% global market share in so-called physical AI by 2040. Microsoft has shifted more focus to selling Copilot, its AI tool for the workplace, instead of offering it for free as part of a software bundle. It's combining the separate Copilot teams for consumer and corporate clients in a bid to create a smoother AI service across its offerings.

Microsoft to invest $10 billion in Japan for AI and cyber defence expansion

TOKYO, April 3 (Reuters) - Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab on Friday said it will invest 1.6 trillion yen ($10 billion) in Japan between 2026 and 2029 to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity cooperation with the government. The investment includes the training of 1 million engineers and developers by 2030, Microsoft said, which was unveiled during a visit to ⁠Tokyo by Vice Chair and President Brad Smith. In a statement, the company said the plan aligns with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's goal to boost growth through advanced, strategic technologies while safeguarding national security. Microsoft will work with domestic firms including SoftBank (9434.T), opens new tab and Sakura Internet (3778.T), opens new tab to expand Japan-based AI computing capacity, allowing companies ⁠and government agencies to keep sensitive data within the country while accessing Microsoft Azure services, it said. It will also deepen cooperation with Japanese authorities on sharing intelligence ⁠related to cyber threats and crime prevention. Japan's adoption of AI has accelerated since 2024, with around one in ⁠five working-age people using generative AI tools, Microsoft said, citing its own data. Japan faces a ⁠projected shortfall of more than 3 million AI and robotics workers by 2040, according to government estimates. Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Japan's Sakura Internet jumps 20% as Microsoft plans $10 billion AI push with SoftBank

Microsoft's Vice Chair and President Brad Smith (L) and Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pose before their meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on April 3, 2026. Shares of Sakura Internet surged as much as 20.2% Friday after Microsoft said it has begun discussions with the Japanese cloud company and SoftBank to develop artificial intelligence infrastructure in Japan. Microsoft said it plans to invest $10 billion in Japan between 2026 and 2029 to build AI infrastructure, strengthen cybersecurity and train 1 million engineers and developers by 2030. Sakura Internet, which provides internet infrastructure services using domestic data centers, and Japanese telecommunications giant SoftBank Corp. will partner with Microsoft to provide AI computing resources, including graphics processing units located in Japan. The announcement came during a visit to Japan by Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith, who met Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Smith said the investment comes as demand for cloud and AI services grows in Japan. Around one in five working-age people in the country use generative AI tools, compared with the global average of about one in six, according to Microsoft's AI Diffusion Report.

Microsoft to invest $10 bn for Japan AI data centres

Tokyo (AFP) - Microsoft said Friday it will invest $10 billion in Japan over the next four years to build artificial intelligence data centres and related infrastructure. Power-hungry data centres -- warehouse-like facilities that power AI tools from chatbots to image generators -- are springing up worldwide, and the sector is growing particularly fast in Asia. Microsoft President Brad Smith met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at her office on Friday to announce the investment. Smith said in a statement that it was a "response to Japan's growing need for cloud and AI services". Businesses in Japan, the world's fourth-largest economy, are keen to get ahead in the fast-moving AI field. But data centre expansion there is constrained by limited space and relatively expensive electricity. The US tech giant will collaborate with Japan's SoftBank Group and Sakura Internet to expand domestic tech infrastructure, it said in a press release. It follows a $2.9 billion two-year investment Microsoft announced in 2024 to bolster the country's push into AI and strengthen its cyber defences. The investment unveiled Friday also includes funds to enhance cybersecurity partnerships with Japanese government agencies, and to train one million engineers in cooperation with telecom and tech giants NTT and NEC. A rush to build data centres in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in India and Southeast Asia, has sparked concerns over the facilities' environmental impact. That includes increased demand on electricity grids that are often reliant on fossil fuels, and on local water supplies used to cool the hot servers inside. Microsoft says it has pledged to become carbon negative, zero-waste and "water positive" by 2030. On Tuesday, the company announced plans to invest more than $1 billion in cloud and AI data centre infrastructure and operations in Thailand over the next two years.

Microsoft to invest $10 billion in Japan for AI and cybersecurity

Microsoft will invest 1.6 trillion yen ($10 billion) in Japan between 2026 and 2029 to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure and enhance cybersecurity cooperation with the government, Reuters reports. The investment aims to address Japan's growing need for AI expertise while supporting Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's goal of promoting growth through advanced technologies and ensuring national security. The plan includes training 1 million engineers and developers by 2030. The announcement came during a visit to Tokyo by Microsoft's Vice Chair and President Brad Smith. The company stated it will collaborate with local firms such as SoftBank and Sakura Internet to boost Japan's AI computing capacity. This initiative will enable companies and government agencies to store sensitive data within Japan while utilizing Microsoft Azure services. Microsoft will also increase cooperation with Japanese authorities regarding intelligence sharing on cyber threats and crime prevention. According to Microsoft, Japan's adoption of AI has surged since 2024, with approximately one in five working-age individuals using generative AI tools. The country is projected to face a shortfall of over 3 million AI and robotics workers by 2040, as estimated by government sources. "This investment supports the Japan's vision for a digitally transformed economy," Smith said. "We believe that developing local talent is essential for sustainable growth and innovation." Microsoft's collaboration with domestic companies will help build a robust AI ecosystem in Japan, leveraging local expertise and addressing the impending workforce shortage in the technology sector.

Microsoft to invest $10 billion in Japan for AI and cyber defence expansion

Microsoft will invest ten billion dollars in Japan from 2026 to 2029. This investment will expand artificial intelligence infrastructure and boost cybersecurity cooperation. The plan includes training one million engineers and developers by 2030. Microsoft will partner with domestic firms to enhance AI computing capacity. This initiative aims to support Japan's technological growth and national security. Microsoft on Friday said it will invest 1.6 trillion yen ($10 billion) in Japan between 2026 and 2029 to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity cooperation with the government. The investment includes the ⁠training ⁠of 1 million engineers and developers by 2030, Microsoft said, which was unveiled during a visit to Tokyo by Vice Chair and President Brad Smith. In a statement, the company said the plan aligns with Prime ⁠Minister Sanae Takaichi's goal to boost growth through advanced, strategic technologies while safeguarding national ⁠security. Microsoft will work with domestic firms including SoftBank and Sakura Internet to expand Japan-based AI computing capacity, allowing companies and government agencies to keep sensitive data within the country while accessing Microsoft Azure services, it said. It will also deepen cooperation with Japanese authorities on sharing intelligence related to cyber threats and crime prevention. Japan's adoption ⁠of AI has accelerated since 2024, with around one in five working-age people using generative AI tools, Microsoft said, citing its own data. Japan faces a projected shortfall of more than 3 million AI and robotics workers by 2040, according to government estimates.

Microsoft Pledges $10 Billion To Japan, Plans To Train 1 Million Engineers By 2030 Amid Workforce Shortfa

The investment will be used to expand AI infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity cooperation with the Japanese government, Reuters reported. As part of this initiative, Microsoft plans to train 1 million engineers and developers by 2030. This announcement was made during a visit to Tokyo by Microsoft's Vice Chair and President, Brad Smith. The investment aligns with Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's vision to drive growth through advanced technologies while ensuring national security. Local Partners, Sovereign Cloud Access The company will also deepen intelligence-sharing with Japanese authorities on cyber threats and crime prevention. According to Microsoft, Japan's adoption of AI has accelerated since 2024, with approximately one in five working-age individuals using generative AI tools. The government estimates a shortfall of over 3 million AI and robotics workers by 2040. Asia-Pacific Dominance, In-House AI Push The Japan commitment comes after the American tech giant recently pledged $5.5 billion in Singapore and $1 billion in Thailand for cloud and AI infrastructure -- signaling a broader Microsoft push to anchor AI dominance across Asia-Pacific. The recent Japan commitment also builds on Microsoft's previous $2.9 billion investment in Japanese data centers announced in 2024 A day before the Japan announcement, Microsoft unveiled a new lineup of in-house MAI models, including speech, transcription and image-generation tools, aimed at improving speed and efficiency while lowering enterprise AI costs. Trading Metrics Microsoft has a market capitalization of $2.77 trillion, with a 52-week high of $555.45 and a 52-week low of $344.79. Over the past 12 months, the large-cap stock has dropped 21.03%. Price Action: According to Benzinga Pro data, MSFT closed the regular session at $373.46, up 1.11%. With a Quality score of 93.66, Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings indicate that MSFT has a negative price trend across all time frames. Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock Disclaimer: 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 To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.

Microsoft drafts $10 billion investment plan in AI-hungry Japan

Microsoft announced a four-year, $10 billion investment package in Japan, part of the U.S. company's Asia-wide push to expand in a region hungry for artificial intelligence services. The world's largest software maker will develop AI infrastructure alongside Sakura Internet and telecom operator SoftBank, with the two Japanese entities supplying graphics processing units and other computing resources, according to a statement. As part of the package, Microsoft, whose Copilot has struggled to keep pace with OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini, will invest in cybersecurity partnerships and train a million AI engineers through 2029. The plan will keep data processing within Japan's borders, it said in a release that coincided with its President Brad Smith's meeting with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Friday.

Microsoft to invest $10 bln in Japan data centres, Nikkei reports By Investing.com

Investing.com-- Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) plans to invest about $10 billion in Japan through 2029 to expand data centers and AI infrastructure amid rising demand for data sovereignty, Nikkei reported on Friday. The report said Microsoft will work with SoftBank Group (TYO:9984) and Sakura Internet Inc (TYO:3778) to build AI-focused domestic data infrastructure linked to its Azure cloud platform, allowing data processing to remain within Japan. Get real-time updates on market-moving news with InvestingPro Microsoft President Brad Smith met Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Friday during his visit to Tokyo, according to Nikkei, in what would mark one of the largest data-center investments announced in Japan by a foreign operator. The company also plans to expand facilities in eastern and western Japan with AI chips and hardware to support advanced workloads and autonomous AI agents, the report said. Nikkei added Microsoft will cooperate with five Japanese partners, including Hitachi (TYO:6501), to train 1 million developers by 2030 and strengthen cybersecurity cooperation with government agencies.

Microsoft to Invest $10 Billion in Japan on AI Infrastructure, Cybersecurity

Microsoft plans to invest $10 billion in Japan over the next four years to develop artificial-intelligence infrastructure with partners and strengthen cybersecurity initiatives. The U.S. technology giant said Friday that the investment plan is aimed at helping advance Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's goal of improving the nation's economic security and promoting growth investments in advanced technologies. Microsoft said it would team up with internet services providers SoftBank Corp. and Sakura Internet to consider jointly developing AI services to support the development of domestic large language models and other applications. The companies aim to create platforms that compute and store data in Japan, while allowing clients to access the platforms through Microsoft's Azure cloud services. The U.S. company said it would strengthen a tie-up with the country's cybersecurity office and help the government and businesses detect cyberattacks early or preempt them. Microsoft also said it would help train one million engineers and developers by 2030 in cooperation with Japanese companies. The announcement came just days after Microsoft disclosed investment plans for Singapore and Thailand. Earlier this week, Microsoft said it was on track to invest $5.5 billion in cloud and AI infrastructure in Singapore through 2029 as demand for AI computing continues to grow. The U.S. tech giant also said it planned to invest more than $1 billion in Thailand over the next two years. Microsoft, which competes in the cloud and data-center space with the likes of Alphabet, Amazon and Alibaba in Asia, has been ramping up its cloud services in response to a continued AI computing boom. Write to Kosaku Narioka at [email protected]

Microsoft to invest $10 billion in Japan for AI and cyber defence expansion

TOKYO, April 3 (Reuters) - Microsoft on Friday said it will invest 1.6 trillion yen ($10 billion) in Japan between 2026 and 2029 to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity cooperation with the government. The investment includes the training of 1 million engineers and developers by 2030, Microsoft said, which was unveiled during a visit to Tokyo by Vice Chair and President Brad Smith. In a statement, the company said the plan aligns with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's goal to boost growth through advanced, strategic technologies while safeguarding national security. Microsoft will work with domestic firms including SoftBank and Sakura Internet to expand Japan-based AI computing capacity, allowing companies and government agencies to keep sensitive data within the country while accessing Microsoft Azure services, it said. It will also deepen cooperation with Japanese authorities on sharing intelligence related to cyber threats and crime prevention. Japan's adoption of AI has accelerated since 2024, with around one in five working-age people using generative AI tools, Microsoft said, citing its own data. Japan faces a projected shortfall of more than 3 million AI and robotics workers by 2040, according to government estimates. (Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus)