The cloudco intends to provide AI competence training to 2.4% of the population, reflecting the importance of AI in Sweden, and boost green credentials
Microsoft is to invest SEK33.7 billion (€2.962 billion) in Sweden over the next two years on cloud infrastructure and the development of AI.
This is the biggest investment yet by Microsoft in the Nordics and will expand Microsoft’s footprint, deploying “20,000 of the most advanced GPUs to its existing data center regions in Sandviken, Gävle and Staffanstorp,” according to this post, in Swedish.
Sweden is a key market
The post cited the AI Index report from Stanford University that shows Sweden has the third largest requirement globally for AI skills (see graph below). Microsoft intends to address this by raising competence, security and knowledge regarding AI within organisations, schools, universities, the public sector and society at large. It plans to provide competence training for 250,000 people over three years, which corresponds to about 2.4% of the population.
Source: Artificial Intelligence Index Report 2024, published by Stanford University
The post says, “To guide the skills programs, Microsoft is establishing an AI Insights Council that brings together leaders in academia, business and the public sector. The competence program will be run in close collaboration with partners and representatives from, among others, the Employment Service, Linköping University, TechSverige and partners within the Swedish Microsoft’s Responsible AI Innovation Center.”
Green agenda
Microsoft noted that working with the state-owned power company, Vattenfall, it can operate its datacentre regions on 100% fossil-free energy and water is only for humidity, not cooling, and most of that is collected rain water.
The software giant also points out it has completed a pilot with Saft, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, using battery energy storage systems (BESS) for back-up instead of diesel generators. Apparently this is an important milestone towards Microsoft’s diesel-free data centres by 2030.
Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President at Microsoft, was also quoted saying that the company is “committed to increasing accessibility and accelerating the introduction of AI throughout the Nordics, including Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. We will connect our AI investments to programs and partnerships that support individuals, businesses and long-term economic growth across the region.”