Microsoft Inc. (MSFT:NASDAQ) announced through a press release that it will invest $3.3 billion in business innovation to spur AI innovation and economic growth. This investment will be designed to strengthen Southeastern Wisconsin’s role as a hub for AI-led economic activity, innovation and job creation. This investment is slated to last until the end of 2026. This project is expected to bring an influx of 2,300 new jobs to the area. It will help Microsoft Inc. companies in Wisconsin and across the country deploy, develop and use the most advanced cloud services and AI applications to grow, modernize and improve their products. The company will also build a data center in the area and partner with Gateway Technical College to build a Data Center Academy that will train and certify more than 1,000 students over five years to work in the new data center and IT jobs.
Transforming businesses of all sizes in every sector
The company is also looking to build a thriving regional economy that will be full of AI innovation and will be the first of its kind in the United States at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus. This AI Co-Innovation Lab will connect Wisconsin manufacturers and other companies with Microsoft’s AI experts and developers to develop new prototypes of AI and cloud solutions to improve and accelerate work and business growth. The goal of this lab is to serve 270 companies and 135 manufacturing company.
Microsoft Inc. (MSFT:NASDAQ) also announced that it has expanded its partnership with Axel Springer SE, Europe’s largest digital publisher, based in Berlin, Germany. The partnership covers advertising, artificial intelligence, content and cloud computing. The aim of the collaboration is to use cutting-edge innovation to support independent journalism around the world. Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner said: “In this new era of artificial intelligence, partnerships are essential to preserve and support independent journalism while ensuring a thriving media environment.” “We are optimistic about the future of journalism and the opportunities we can open up through this expanded partnership with Microsoft.”
Microsoft is also investing $1.5 billion to accelerate AI development and global expansion in G42, an Emirati holding company based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This strategic investment will strengthen the UAE’s position as a global AI hub and provide partners and customers with additional opportunities for innovation and growth. As part of this expanded partnership, Brad Smith, vice chairman and president of Microsoft, will join the board of directors of the G42-appointed company. Microsoft’s investment, which builds on the two organisations’ long-standing collaboration in AI and digital transformation, deepens their mutual commitment to this strategic partnership. G42 will run its AI applications and services in Microsoft Azure and partner to deliver advanced AI solutions to global public sector clients and large enterprises. G42 and Microsoft will also work together to bring advanced AI and digital infrastructure to countries in the Middle East, namely Central Asia and Africa, to provide them with equitable access to services that enable them to solve critical government and business challenges while ensuring the highest standards of security and privacy.
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Microsoft Inc. (MSFT:NASDAQ) also pays regular quarterly dividends to its shareholders. Currently, the dividend yield is 0.71% p.a. The actual dividend amount was approved by the AGM at $0.75 per share. According to analysts at brokerage firms and financial strategists at investment banks, the share price can be expected to rise in the short to medium term investment horizon. The average target price for the short to medium term investment horizon was set at USD 489.90 per share.