微软表示，到2028年底前还将再培训3 million（3×10^6）名澳大利亚人掌握AI技能，叠加此前计划在澳大利亚和新西兰培训超过1 million（1×10^6）人的目标，合计将超过4 million（4×10^6）人。Satya Nadella指出，澳大利亚“拥有巨大的机会可将AI转化为实质经济增长与社会收益”。澳大利亚总理Anthony Albanese补充称，该长期投资将加强网络防御，并为澳大利亚劳动者和企业创造新机会。
该举措发生在全球AI竞争加剧背景下，微软与Amazon、Meta和Alphabet等美国同行都在全球范围内为AI用户投入数十亿美元。微软还将Copilot从软件套件中的免费附加项转向更强的付费销售，并整合消费端与企业端团队，以形成更统一的AI服务。文中同时提到Copilot仍被认为在竞争中落后于OpenAI的ChatGPT及Google的Gemini。美国云计算主要公司预计今年在高耗能数据中心上的投入约为USD 650 billion（6.5×10^11），显示AI基础设施投资的规模继续扩大；微软在澳大利亚之外，近期还宣布在日本（A$10 billion）、新加坡（A$5.5 billion）和泰国（US$1.1 billion）进行投资，强化其亚太布局。
Microsoft announced its largest-ever investment in Australia, pledging A$25 billion (2.5×10^10 AUD, equivalent to about USD 17.9 billion) by end-2029. The company said it would substantially expand Azure AI supercomputing and cloud infrastructure, while advancing AI safety, skills training, and cybersecurity. It signed a memorandum with the Australian government and will work with the newly formed Australian Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute to address AI-related risks and harms. This build was described as an expansion on the A$5 billion (5×10^9 AUD) commitment announced in October 2023.
Microsoft added that it will train an additional 3 million (3×10^6) Australians in AI skills by the end of 2028, on top of a prior pledge of more than 1 million (1×10^6) people in Australia and New Zealand, for a combined target above 4 million (4×10^6). Satya Nadella said Australia has a huge opportunity to convert AI into real economic growth and social benefit. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the long-term investment would strengthen cyber defences and create opportunities for Australian workers and businesses.
The move came amid intensified global AI competition, as Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet and other U.S. peers are committing billions for AI users worldwide. Microsoft is shifting Copilot away from a free bundled software add-on toward stronger paid commercialization and is integrating consumer and enterprise Copilot teams to offer more unified AI services. The report also notes Copilot has struggled versus OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. U.S. cloud peers are expected to spend about USD 650 billion (6.5×10^11) this year on power-hungry data centers, showing AI infrastructure spending is scaling rapidly. Microsoft's additional moves in Japan (A$10 billion), Singapore (A$5.5 billion), and Thailand (USD 1.1 billion) indicate a broader Asia–Pacific expansion strategy.