Microsoft spends 4 billion euros to boost AI in France!

Microsoft, a global leader in the technology sector, announces an investment of 4 billion euros to develop its cloud and AI infrastructure in France. This financial commitment, the largest by the company to date in the country, was revealed at the Choose France summit. It aims to accelerate the adoption of AI and strengthen the competitiveness of the French digital ecosystem.

Enhancement of cloud and AI infrastructures in France

Microsoft firm will invest a massive amount of 4 billion euros to boost its cloud and AI infrastructure in France. This ambitious project includes expanding existing sites near Paris and Marseille, as well as creating a new data center in the Grand Est region, in Mulhouse.

Microsoft’s efforts are not limited to the physical expansion of its facilities. The company also commits to powering all its operations in France with 100% renewable energy by 2025. This green shift includes the signing of its first long-term electricity purchase agreements (PPAs) this month, with a goal of bringing 100 MW of new renewable energy projects online in France by the end of 2024.

Je veux saluer l’annonce de 4 milliards d’euros d’investissement de @Microsoft en France, pour l’intelligence artificielle !

Nous avons anticipé en Région Sud, en lançant un partenariat exclusif :

➡️ Pour la filière sur notre territoire
➡️ Pour améliorer notre service public pic.twitter.com/GFa7AmAphK

— Renaud Muselier (@RenaudMuselier) May 13, 2024

AI training initiatives and support for startups

Microsoft’s announcement is part of a broader plan to develop AI skills, with the goal of training one million French people by 2027. Job seekers, professionals, students, and SMEs will all benefit from the training program of the American IT giant.

To enhance the impact of these trainings, Microsoft is also rolling out “AI for You”, an initiative in collaboration with the micro-learning platform Kokoroe. This program aims to make AI learning accessible to everyone, through short, technologically agnostic modules, available on several online training platforms.

In parallel, Microsoft is launching Microsoft GenAI Studio to energize the ecosystem of French startups. The goal is to support more than 2,500 startups by 2027 in adopting AI. The program will start with a four-month cycle at STATION F, enriched with technical workshops and collaboration spaces. It will be deployed regionally, with workshops and trainings in Microsoft Experiences Labs to integrate GenAI technologies locally.

These major initiatives by Microsoft reinforce its presence in France, where it has been operating since 1983 and employs more than 2,100 people. They also support France’s ambition to become a leader in the field of AI and align with recent recommendations from the French Commission for Artificial Intelligence.