MICROSOFT TARGETS $50 BILLION AI EXPANSION ACROSS THE GLOBAL SOUTH

Microsoft says it is on track to invest as much as $50 billion by the end of the decade to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure, skills training, and connectivity across developing economies, part of a broader strategy aimed at narrowing the global AI adoption gap.

- 

The initiative focuses on regions commonly described as the “Global South,” where limited computing infrastructure, internet access, and local-language tools have slowed adoption compared with advanced economies.

Company executives describe the effort as both an economic development strategy and a long-term market expansion plan. By supporting data center construction, expanding cloud infrastructure, and improving internet connectivity, Microsoft aims to create the foundational conditions required for large-scale AI deployment while enabling local businesses, governments, and universities to build region-specific solutions. The program also emphasizes development of multilingual AI models capable of supporting underrepresented languages and cultural contexts, an area historically underserved by global technology platforms.

INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT TO EXPAND ACCESS