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Microsoft lines up $10-billion investment to expand AI infrastructure in Japan

Microsoft has announced that it will invest $10 billion in ​Japan between 2026 and 2029 to expand ‌artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and strengthen cyber-security cooperation with the government.
The investment includes training of 1 million ​engineers and developers by 2030, Microsoft has added in a statement.
The company has said that the ​plan aligns with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s goal to boost growth through advanced, strategic technologies, while safeguarding national security.
Microsoft ​will work with domestic companies, including SoftBank and ​Sakura Internet, to expand Japan-based AI computing capacity, allowing ‌companies ⁠and government agencies to keep sensitive data within the country, while accessing Microsoft Azure services, the statement has stressed.
Microsoft will also deepen cooperation with the ​Japanese authorities ​on sharing intelligence ⁠related to cyber threats and crime prevention, the company has said.
Japan’s adoption of AI has ​accelerated since 2024, with around one ​in ⁠five working-age people using generative AI tools, Microsoft has said, citing its own data.
Japan faces a ⁠projected ​shortfall of more than 3 ​million AI and robotics workers by 2040, according to government ​estimates.

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