During his keynote at the Microsoft AI Tour 2024 in Mexico City, Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella announced that Microsoft Corporation is reinforcing its commitment to Mexico with a $1.3 billion investment over the next three years. This substantial investment aims to enhance the country’s AI infrastructure and promote initiatives designed to democratise access to digital and AI skills. A key element of this plan is the ‘Artificial Intelligence National Skills programme’, which seeks to provide AI skills to 5 million people. The investment also includes improving connectivity and driving AI adoption among small and medium-sized businesses to accelerate their digital transformation and operations.
The company’s investment in AI infrastructure will expand local computing capacity and drive innovation across industries. Sustainability remains at the heart of Microsoft’s mission, with the company committed to ambitious goals such as becoming carbon negative, water positive, and zero waste by 2030.
As a leader in cloud computing infrastructure, Microsoft operates over 60 data centres regions globally, designing its systems to enhance performance, efficiency, and sustainability. “We are entering a new era of AI, with the potential to create inclusive economic growth and opportunity across every role, industry, and country, including in Mexico,” Nadella remarked, emphasising the transformative role of AI in fostering growth across the nation.
Microsoft’s new AI infrastructure will operate under its AI Access Principles, designed to promote innovation, healthy competition, and the responsible use of AI. These principles reflect Microsoft’s growing role and responsibility in shaping the AI economy.
Several companies and educational institutions in Mexico have already adopted Microsoft’s AI technology. Tecnológico de Monterrey has developed Tecgpt, a generative AI platform aimed at enhancing learning and boosting productivity among students and faculty, becoming one of the first of its kind in Latin America. Cemex, a leading global building materials company, has implemented Microsoft’s AI-powered copilot, Technical Xpert, improving productivity and transforming areas such as sales, production, and supply chain management.
Microsoft’s Artificial Intelligence National Skills Initiative forms a crucial part of this investment, aiming to train 5 million people within three years. This initiative will partner with governments, industry, academia, and civil society to offer large-scale training to users, developers, educators, and leaders, providing resources aligned with current labor market needs. As generative AI becomes more integral to daily work, Microsoft’s platform will ensure that medium and small businesses understand the AI skills required for their employees’ success.
A Microsoft study on AI adoption among Mexican micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMBs) in 2023 revealed that 57% of SMBs were using AI to improve efficiency, make data-driven decisions, and personalise customer experiences. To further support this trend, Microsoft is investing in The Bridge Accelerator programme, which will help 30,000 SMBs update their business practices and integrate into North American supply chains through the PyMAIs AI platform over the next three years.
Additionally, Microsoft will continue its efforts to apply AI solutions to address health, connectivity, and sustainability challenges in Mexico. This includes leveraging the AI for Good programme, aimed at addressing pressing social and environmental issues.
On the sustainability front, Microsoft is actively addressing infrastructure growth needs. The company has committed to long-term investments in clean energy through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), contracting over 34 GW of renewable energy across 24 countries to accelerate the global energy transition. In Mexico, Microsoft has launched several sustainability projects, including a six-year deal with The Next 150 to remove up to 95,000 tons of CO2 through a biochar project in Guanajuato and a one-year agreement with Toroto SAPI de CV to remove 234,000 tons of CO2 through forest restoration in Campeche.
These projects not only help remove carbon from the atmosphere but also benefit local farmers and foster biodiversity, reinforcing Microsoft’s commitment to community impact. As part of its broader environmental goals, Microsoft is working to increase access to clean water and sanitation solutions through water replenishment initiatives in Mexico.
“Today’s announcement demonstrates Microsoft’s trust and commitment to Mexico supporting inclusive economic growth in the country. This investment has already been shared with the incoming Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, to ensure his support and achieve the greatest impact in our country. With this, we are empowering individuals, companies, and society to enhance innovation and democratise the use of AI through skills development, knowledge sharing, and access to cutting-edge technology and digital infrastructure, while also meeting our sustainability goals,” said Rafael Sánchez Loza, General Manager of Microsoft Mexico.
Through these investments, Microsoft aims to democratise the use of AI, bolster innovation, and ensure that Mexico is well-positioned for the future of artificial intelligence and sustainable development.
