Nadella underlined that Microsoft is helping Malaysia in its AI transformation and ensuring that all Malaysians benefit from it. The company's investment in digital infrastructure and skills development will empower Malaysia's businesses, communities and developers to harness the latest technologies, drive inclusive economic growth and encourage innovation across the country.
During his Southeast Asia tour, Nadella also revealed a $1.7 billion investment in cloud and AI services in Indonesia, and Microsoft's plans to build its first regional data center in Thailand. In April, the tech giant announced a $2.9 billion investment in Japan and committed $1.5 billion to Abu Dhabi AI company G42.
Additionally, Microsoft has committed to providing AI training to 2.5 million people in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam by 2025. This initiative aims to equip people in these countries with the skills necessary to thrive in the world AI-driven.
Increasing Malaysia's AI capacity
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whom Nadella met, expressed confidence that Microsoft's investment will play an important role in increasing AI capacity in Malaysia. The new investment will include training an additional 300,000 people, establishing a national AI center of excellence, strengthening the country's cybersecurity capabilities, and supporting the growth of Malaysia's developer community, as stated by Anwar on Facebook.
Microsoft stated that the investment in Malaysia is a continuation of its 2021 program to encourage inclusive economic growth. The proposed national AI center will drive AI adoption in key industries and the public sector while ensuring AI governance and regulatory compliance, according to a company statement.