Microsoft says it will pump $25bn into boosting Australia’s supercomputing and artificial intelligence capacity by decade’s end in what will be the biggest investment in the country’s history and solidify the tech giant’s role in national security.
The investment unveiled on Thursday would go into expanding Microsoft’s Azure AI supercomputing and cloud infrastructure while working with the AI Safety Institute, the company said in a statement.
It said the commitment would also deepen co-operation with Australia’s national security agencies to protect government departments from cyber threats.
Announcing the investment, Anthony Albanese spruiked his government’s National AI Plan as being “all about capturing the economic opportunities of this transformative technology while protecting Australians from the risks”.
“Microsoft’s long-term investment in our national capability will help deliver on that plan – strengthening our cyber defences and creating opportunity for Australian workers and businesses,” the Prime Minister said.
Microsoft chairman and chief executive Satya Nadella said Australia had “an enormous opportunity to translate AI into real economic growth and societal benefit”.
“That is why we are making our largest investment in Australia to date, committing $25bn to expand AI and cloud capacity, strengthen cyber security and expand access to digital skills across the country,” he said.
The Microsoft-Australian Signals Directorate Cyber Shield (MACS) is a high-level security partnership aimed at bolstering Australia’s cyber defences by combining Microsoft’s global threat intelligence with the ASD’s local expertise.
Microsoft’s investments will extend MACS’ coverage to other federal agencies.
