Microsoft: USD 400 million for AI data centers in Switzerland

Microsoft announced in Bern on Monday that it intends to invest 400 million US dollars in the expansion of data centers for artificial intelligence and the cloud in the Alpine country. Microsoft made the announcement at a meeting between the Swiss Minister of Economic Affairs (more precisely: Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education, and Research) Guy Parmelin and the company's Vice President Brad Smith.

In the announcement, Microsoft writes that the focus is on expanding the cloud and AI infrastructure. The existing four data centers near Zurich and Geneva are to be expanded and adapted to the growing demand for cloud and AI services. This will serve more than 50,000 existing customers and provide AI functions for regulated sectors such as healthcare, finance, and administration.

Microsoft promises to strengthen the Swiss business landscape

The Redmond-based company is also looking to collaborate with Swiss innovation parks to strengthen the industry and bring AI innovations from research into practical applications on the market. This should strengthen the backbone of the Swiss economy: small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups. Microsoft also wants to train one million Swiss people in AI by 2027, equipping workers, educators, and students with the tools they need to make an AI-driven economy flourish. Finally, Microsoft plans to establish Switzerland as a global hub for the responsible use of AI. This will take place in the international Geneva ecosystem, with planned collaboration with the resident United Nations and international organizations “to drive policy discussions on AI, support global AI qualification programs and address challenges in the areas of health, humanitarian aid and human rights.”

The news agency Reuters adds that Microsoft – which has around 1,000 employees in Switzerland – does not mention how many new jobs the investment is expected to create. The expansion of the data centers should not only serve existing but also new customers and enable data to be kept within Swiss borders, which is important for regulated sectors.

(dmk)