Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) will invest A$25 billion ($18 billion) in Australia through 2029 to expand artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure, marking its largest-ever commitment in the country.
The investment, announced on Thursday by Chief Executive Satya Nadella alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, will boost the company’s Azure AI supercomputing capacity and data centre footprint, with plans to expand its infrastructure by more than 140%.
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The move underscores intensifying competition among global technology firms to scale AI capabilities, as demand for computing power surges amid rapid adoption of generative AI.
Microsoft said the investment will also strengthen Australia’s cybersecurity through an expanded partnership with the Australian Signals Directorate, extending protection to additional government agencies and critical systems.
As part of the initiative, the company plans to train three million Australians in AI-related skills by 2028, in what it described as the country’s largest such workforce programme.
The investment builds on Microsoft’s earlier A$5 billion commitment in 2023.
