Mexico City – During his keynote at the Microsoft AI Tour 2024, Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella reaffirmed Microsoft’s commitment to Mexico with a significant investment of $1.3 billion over the next three years. This investment aims to enhance AI infrastructure and promote digital and AI skills across the country, particularly through the new Artificial Intelligence National Skills program, which seeks to democratize access to AI skills for 5 million people.
Commitment to Economic Growth
Recognizing AI’s potential as a catalyst for social and economic development, Nadella emphasized that Microsoft’s expansion in Mexico comes at a pivotal moment for technology. The investment will not only increase local computing capacity but also support innovation, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMBs).
“We are entering a new era of AI with the promise to create inclusive economic growth and opportunity across every role, industry, and country, including in Mexico,” Nadella stated.
Key Initiatives
AI Infrastructure Development: Microsoft will enhance its AI capabilities to address various societal issues, improve productivity, and boost cybersecurity. This initiative aligns with Microsoft’s AI Access Principles, fostering healthy competition and innovation within the AI economy.
National Skills Initiative: The company plans to train 5 million individuals over the next three years, partnering with governments, industries, and educational institutions. The initiative aims to equip users, developers, and organizational leaders with necessary AI skills aligned with market demands.
Support for SMBs: Microsoft’s investments include the Bridge Accelerator program, designed to prepare regional SMBs for integration into North American industry value chains. The program will aid 30,000 SMBs in enhancing their competitiveness and market reach.
AI for Good Initiatives
Microsoft’s AI for Good program will also tackle health, connectivity, and sustainability challenges:
Health: AI models are being developed to assist in diagnosing Retinopathy of Prematurity (RoP), a leading cause of infant blindness, using smartphones.
Connectivity: In partnership with Viasat, Microsoft aims to connect over 1.45 million people by expanding internet access, especially for underserved populations.
Sustainability: Microsoft is committed to ambitious corporate sustainability targets, including becoming carbon negative by 2030. Recent projects in Mexico focus on carbon removal and ecosystem restoration.
A Future-Ready Mexico
By fostering digitalization and empowering individuals and businesses, Microsoft aims to harness technology as a transformative force in navigating the new digital economy. With a focus on responsible innovation, Microsoft is dedicated to ensuring that the benefits of technology are equitably shared across Mexico.
“Today’s announcement demonstrates Microsoft’s trust and commitment to Mexico supporting inclusive economic growth in the country,” said Rafael Sánchez Loza, General Manager of Microsoft Mexico.
This investment marks a significant step toward enhancing innovation and access to cutting-edge technology, ensuring a prosperous and inclusive future for Mexico.
