Largest Ever Private Investment to Help Drive National AI Ambitions
Microsoft has committed AUD $25 billion in digital infrastructure and security investments, including support of federal agency resilience, training, and security.
A National AI Plan was announced by the Federal Government in December last year, and with other private firms contributing to its ambitions, Microsoft's investment is the most significant in the country's history.
The company's Azure IE platform will be expanded with specifically designed processing, cloud, and supercomputing compatibilities increasing national capacity by 140% by 2029. The Microsoft-Australian Signals Directorate Cyber Shield (MACS) that was established in 2023 will also be further funded, having already secured more than 38,000 government accounts and 35 previously unknown vulnerabilities.
Over three million Australians will be trained in industry and practice leading AI skills by the end of 2028 - an extension on a previously met goal of training one million participants by the end of 2025.
Free training will be offered to those working in education, non profits, and social impact.
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