Microsoft has unveiled $23 billion in new AI-related investments, placing a major strategic focus on India, one of the world’s fastest-growing digital ecosystems.
CEO Satya Nadella confirmed that $17.5 billion will be deployed in India — Microsoft’s largest investment in Asia to date. Beginning in 2026, this four-year plan is set to give the company the largest cloud-computing footprint in the country, reinforcing India’s rise as a global AI and data-infrastructure hub.
India’s combination of 1 billion internet users and deep technical talent has made it a prime destination for U.S. tech giants. With limited chip-manufacturing capacity, the nation sees data centers as its strongest entry into the global AI boom.
Tech rivals are also ramping up commitments:
- Google announced a $15B investment to build an AI data center in Andhra Pradesh.
- Microsoft doubled its goal to equip 20 million Indians with AI skills by 2030.
During Nadella’s visit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he emphasized that the investment will “build the infrastructure, skills, and sovereign capabilities needed for India’s AI-first future.”
🇨🇦 Additional Expansion in Canada
Microsoft also revealed C$7.5B (~$5.4B) of new spending in Canada over two years, part of a C$19B plan running through 2027 — including expanded Azure capacity and a partnership with AI startup Cohere.
🌐 A Global AI Buildout
Microsoft is rapidly scaling infrastructure worldwide, following recent commitments of:
- $10B in Portugal
- $15B in the UAE
As major cloud providers are expected to invest $400B+ in AI infrastructure this year, concerns about an AI bubble continue to surface — yet Microsoft’s aggressive strategy shows its clear conviction in long-term demand.