A few days ago, Microsoft announced a major investment in Germany to expand its AI network and now it’s turning its focus on Spain. The Windows maker has now committed to invest a total of $2.1 billion in Spain over the next two years to expand its AI and cloud infrastructure in the country.
The announcement comes from Microsoft’s President Brad Smith, who shared his words on X. He said: “Our investment is beyond just building data centers, it’s a testament to our 37-year commitment to Spain, its security, and development and digital transformation of its government, businesses, and people.”
Finer details about Microsoft’s investment are yet to be revealed, but as revealed by Smith, the company will be building data centers in the region.
As mentioned earlier, this announcement comes soon after Microsoft’s AI expansion in Germany. The software giant has committed €3.2 billion in Germany, which marks the company’s biggest venture to date within the country during Microsoft’s 40-year history.
Microsoft’s investment is set to double the capacity of its Frankfurt cloud region and establish new facilities in North Rhine-Westphalia. By the year 2025, the tech giant intends to provide digital skills training to over 1.2 million individuals.
This strategic expansion is designed to cater to the increasing need for AI-centric computing capabilities and cloud-based services. It also aims to facilitate the development and implementation of innovative AI models and services through the Microsoft Azure platform. The initiative will bolster support for key sectors including manufacturing, automotive, finance, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, and medical technology.
Investments in Robotics
Microsoft has also been investing in startups based on robotics including the startup known as Figure AI. Microsoft alongside its partner OpenAI, were reportedly in discussions to invest a total of $500 million into Figure AI, according to people familiar with the matter cited by Bloomberg.
This would raise Figure AI’s total valuation up to $1,9 billion, marking an industry first for the humanoid robotics sector.
Another robotics startup called 1X Technologies also received a substantial sum from Microsoft’s partner earlier this year. This Series A funding was valued at a total of $23.5 million.
