Microsoft, an American multinational technology corporation, has unveiled its AI Access Principles, a document highlighting its role and responsibility in the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) globally.

The new principles help put in context the new investments and programmes it announced and launched across Europe over the past two weeks, according to the company.

It said the investments include $5.6 billion in new AI data centres and new AI skilling programmes that will reach more than a million people.

“The principles we’re announcing today commit Microsoft to bigger investments, more business partnerships, and broader programs to promote innovation and competition than any prior initiative in the company’s 49-year history,” the company said in a statement.

“By publishing these principles, we are committing ourselves to provide the broad technology access needed to empower organisations and individuals around the world to develop and use AI in ways that will serve the public good,” it added.

According to Microsoft, countries need more than advanced AI chips and data centres to sustain their competitive edge and unlock economic growth and “that is why it is marrying AI infrastructure capacity with AI skilling capability, combining the two to advance innovation.”

“In just the past few months, we’ve combined billions of dollars of infrastructure investments with new programs to bring AI skills to millions of people in countries like Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Spain,” the company said.

“We are launching training programs focused on building AI fluency, developing AI technical skills, supporting AI business transformation, and promoting safe and responsible AI development,” it added.

Folake Balogun is a technology journalist covering the evolving digital economy, with a focus on startup ecosystems, fintech innovation, artificial Intelligence, venture capital, and emerging technologies. Her work explores the intersection of technology, business, and society by highlighting how innovations such as artificial intelligence and next-generation connectivity are shaping everyday life and economic growth across the African continent and globally. She is a sixth cohort participant in the Technology and Digital Reporting training hosted by the Media Career Development Network in partnership with the U.S. Consulate General, Lagos. Folake is also a Fellow of the Tax Justice and Equity Project (2023 Cohort) by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) with the support of the International Budget Partnership. Through her reporting and analysis, she continues to spotlight the people, ideas, and technologies driving digital transformation.

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