Microsoft is set to construct a new AI data center in Racine, Wisconsin with a $3.3 billion investment. The move is part of the company’s strategy to enhance its AI capabilities. This decision comes after plans for a display screen factory at the same location by Foxconn, Apple’s third-party iPhone manufacturer, fell through. The new data center is expected to create 2,300 union construction jobs and 2,000 permanent jobs.
Microsoft’s President Brad Smith will announce the plans for the data center alongside President Joe Biden, emphasizing the company’s commitment to AI development. The facility will support Microsoft’s growing need for computing power for its energy-intensive AI projects. Despite concerns about AI’s impact on power grids and the environment, Microsoft remains focused on advancing this technology for the future.
The new data center will also offer training programs for 1,000 individuals in the state for STEM jobs through its “Datacenter academy.” Additionally, a “Co-Innovation Lab” will be established to further develop AI technology. The site of the data center was initially intended for a Foxconn factory before the project was abandoned, despite significant investments from the company and the state of Wisconsin.
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