- Sets ambitious goals to train 10m individuals in AI across India by 2030, building on last year’s success of upskilling 2.4m people.
- Nadella noted the immense potential within the local tech community, particularly its contributions to AI projects, such as GitHub Copilot.
Microsoft announced a landmark investment of $3 billion aimed at enhancing its Azure cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities in India.
The initiative, articulated by CEO Satya Nadella at an event in Bangalore, southern India, addressing a crowd of startup founders and executives from tech firms, marks the largest investment the company has made in the country to date and corresponds with its broader strategy of leveraging India’s technological expertise and cost advantages to generate profitable returns.
Immense potential
Over the next two years, this investment is intended not only to expand Azure’s capacity but also to facilitate the upskilling of the Indian workforce in AI.
A Microsoft spokesperson has emphasised that this financial outlay is in addition to the company’s prior commitment of $80 billion towards developing AI-enabled data centres by fiscal 2025.
Such initiatives highlight India’s position as a vital growth market for US tech giants, with increasing attention from executives of notable companies—including Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices—who have similarly pledged substantial investments in the region.
The significance of this investment is further illuminated by Microsoft’s current presence in India, where it employs over 20,000 individuals across ten cities.
Nadella noted the immense potential within the local tech community, particularly its contributions to AI projects, such as GitHub Copilot, which serves as a generative AI tool for developers.
As the second-largest developer community on GitHub—trailing only the United States—India is projected to surpass the US by 2028 in terms of developer presence.
GitHub Copilot
Moreover, concerns regarding the profitability of AI investments loom over Microsoft, akin to challenges faced by other technology giants. However, GitHub Copilot has emerged as one of the company’s few AI ventures yielding financial returns, boasting an annual run-rate of $2 billion as of July.
Additionally, Microsoft has set ambitious goals to train ten million individuals in AI across India by 2030, building on last year’s success of upskilling 2.4 million people.
The popularity of Nadella, an Indian-born leader, resonates deeply within a nation where engineering education is synonymous with social mobility. His recent keynote address during the “Microsoft AI Tour” drew significant crowds, exemplifying the enthusiasm and anticipation surrounding technological advancements.
The engagement of professionals, such as software engineers relying on Azure AI services, underscores the enthusiasm for innovations yet to be unveiled.