New Delhi, February 18: American tech giant Microsoft announced on Wednesday that it will invest $50 billion by the end of this decade to promote artificial intelligence (AI) in Global South countries.
Microsoft’s Vice Chair and President, Brad Smith, along with Vice President and Chief Responsible AI Officer, Natasha Crampton, stated in a blog post that AI usage in Global North is nearly double that of Global South.
They wrote, “This gap continues to widen. This inequality not only affects national and regional economic development but also impacts whether AI can fulfill its broader promise of creating opportunities and prosperity worldwide.”
Smith emphasized that the ‘India AI Impact Summit‘ has rightly placed this challenge at the forefront of its agenda.
He stated, “For over a century, unequal access to electricity has deepened the economic divide between the Global North and South. If we do not act immediately, the growing AI gap will exacerbate this inequality in the coming century.”
Microsoft also announced the launch of the ‘Elevate for Educators’ program in India, aimed at enhancing the capabilities of 2 million teachers across more than 200,000 schools, vocational institutions, and higher education establishments.
The company noted, “Our goal is to help the country’s teaching workforce lead confidently in an AI-driven future. This program will be run in partnership with India’s national education and workforce training authorities, providing equal AI opportunities for 8 million students.”
In the last financial year alone, Microsoft invested over $8 billion in data center infrastructure serving the Global South, including new infrastructure in India, Mexico, and countries across Africa, South America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.
Additionally, with a community of 24 million, Indian developers form the second-largest national community on GitHub, where they learn about AI and collaborate with developers worldwide.
Microsoft stated, “The Indian community is the fastest-growing among the top 30 largest economies, with a growth rate exceeding 26% annually since 2020, and a projected annual increase of over 36% by the fourth quarter of 2025.”
My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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