MICROSOFT TO INVEST US$5.5 BLN IN SINGAPORE AI PUSH

SINGAPORE, April 2 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- Microsoft will invest US$5.5 billion over five years to expand its cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in Singapore, reported Xinhua.

The global technology firm said in a statement on Wednesday that the investment, spanning 2025 to 2029, will support infrastructure development, operations, cybersecurity and governance.

Alongside the capital commitment, Microsoft announced a suite of initiatives aimed at strengthening AI skills across education, workforce and social sectors. More than 200,000 tertiary students in Singapore will receive 12 months of free access to Microsoft 365 Premium with Copilot, enabling the use of AI tools embedded in applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

The company is also expanding its Microsoft Elevate programmes. These include training for educators to integrate AI into classrooms and initiatives to help nonprofit leaders adopt AI responsibly, as adoption accelerates across industries.

Singapore's Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment Janil Puthucheary said foundational AI skills are becoming as essential as digital literacy, adding that equipping students and educators will strengthen the country's future workforce.

Microsoft's Vice Chair and President, Brad Smith said the firm's ongoing investment in cloud and AI infrastructure reflects its long-term confidence in Singapore as a global digital leader. 

--BERNAMA-XINHUA