Microsoft is investing $3.3 billion in building a data hub in Wisconsin to train employees and manufacturers on artificial intelligence. President Joe Biden is set to visit the site to highlight the administration’s efforts to invest in job growth in America. This announcement comes after a failed $10 billion investment by Foxconn in the same area, which never materialized. The new center aims to create thousands of jobs and train workers on generative AI by 2030, with a partnership with United Way Wisconsin and other community partners.
Microsoft plans to train 100,000 workers across the state in generative AI by 2030 through the new center, as well as opening a lab at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to help companies and manufacturers integrate the technology into their businesses. Microsoft’s Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella, earned his master’s degree in computer science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Biden is expected to address the failed Foxconn project during his visit, pointing the finger at the Trump administration.
The president’s visit to Wisconsin also aims to highlight key achievements of the Biden administration, including job growth in the state due to funding from legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Chips Act. The White House states that 177,000 jobs have been added in Wisconsin since Biden took office, with specific growth in Racine. Biden previously signed executive orders on AI to assist entrepreneurs, help small businesses commercialize AI breakthroughs, and expand grants for AI research in areas like healthcare and climate change.
The White House has introduced regulations on AI, including requiring AI system developers to share results of safety tests with the federal government before releasing them to the public. Biden urged Congress to pass legislation to regulate AI during his State of the Union address, emphasizing the need to harness the promise of AI while protecting against its risks. Wisconsin has also received funding for futuristic industries through Biden’s “Investing in America” agenda, including investments in infrastructure and clean energy.
Microsoft’s investment in Wisconsin’s data hub comes at a time when the government is focused on monitoring and regulating the risks of artificial intelligence. Biden has called for legislation to regulate AI, warning of the technology’s risks if left unchecked. The state of Wisconsin has also received funding for futuristic industries, including infrastructure and clean energy initiatives. Biden’s visit to the state aims to highlight the administration’s efforts in job growth and investment in cutting-edge technologies like AI.