At the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Microsoft announced it is on course to invest $50 billion by the end of the decade to support the deployment of artificial intelligence in lower-income countries, amid discussions among top tech leaders on AI and its global impact.
Microsoft President Brad Smith and AI officer Natasha Crampton addressed the summit with the overarching message: “We need to act with urgency to address the growing AI divide.”
“As a company, we are committed to playing an ambitious and constructive role in supporting this opportunity. This week in Delhi, we’re sharing that Microsoft is on pace to invest $50 billion by the end of the decade to help bring AI to countries across the Global South. This is based on a five-part program to drive AI impact.”
- Building the infrastructure needed for AI diffusion
- Empowering people through technology and skills for schools and nonprofits
- Strengthening multilingual and multicultural AI capabilities
- Enabling local AI innovations that address community needs
- Measuring AI diffusion to guide future AI policies and investments
“For AI to diffuse broadly and deliver meaningful impact across regions, several conditions matter. As a company, we are focused on the need for accessible AI infrastructure, systems that work reliably in real-world contexts, and technologies that can be applied toward local challenges and opportunities. Microsoft is committed to working with partners to advance this work, including sharing data to track progress.”
The AI Impact Summit, organized by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizes the nation’s goal to become a leading AI hub in the global south.
Attendees include Sam Altman of OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT; Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei; and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech on Friday.
By CEO NA Editorial Staff
