Microsoft is planning to inject $3.2 billion over the next three years into the United Kingdom in an effort to foster artificial intelligence technology growth. The UK government has lauded this decision, claiming that Microsoft’s investment will provide a solid foundation from which the grow the AI industry.
“Today’s announcement is a turning point for the future of AI infrastructure and development in the UK,” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared on Thursday. This funding will more than double Microsoft’s data center footprint in Britain.
According to the UK government, this investment will be used by Microsoft to bring over 20,000 of its state-of-the-art Graphics Processing Units to Britain, thereby providing a launchpad for machine learning and developing AI. Plans also include training local British workers so that they are equipped with the skills they need to build and work with AI.