Muscat: This staggering sum is part of an industry-wide surge in AI spending, with rivals Amazon, Google, and OpenAI also pouring billions into the rapidly evolving technology.
Smith, in an online post, called AI “the electricity of our age,” predicting its transformative potential across all aspects of life. He emphasized the importance of the United States maintaining a leadership role in this field.
“The United States is poised to stand at the forefront of this new technology wave, especially if it doubles down on its strengths and effectively partners internationally,” Smith wrote, urging support from the incoming administration and Congress.
Smith advocated for increased funding for AI research at universities and through agencies like the National Science Foundation. He highlighted the competitive edge of the U.S. in the global AI race, particularly against China, which is subsidizing access to critical computer chips and building AI infrastructure in developing nations.
For its part, Microsoft’s colossal AI spending includes building state-of-the-art datacenters, training advanced AI models, and deploying cloud-based applications worldwide. The company’s fiscal year runs through June 2025.
While it remains uncertain how and when tech giants will see returns on their AI investments, the stakes are high as they compete to shape the future of technology and its global standards.
