Microsoft is investing $3.3 billion to build a data hub in Wisconsin focused on training employees and manufacturers in artificial intelligence (AI). President Joe Biden will be visiting the site to emphasize the administration’s commitment to job growth in America. This investment by Microsoft comes after a previous failed $10 billion investment by Foxconn, which was supposed to create 13,000 jobs in the area but never materialized. The new center is expected to create 2,300 construction jobs and 2,000 permanent jobs over time.
The center will train about 100,000 workers in generative AI by 2030 through a partnership with United Way Wisconsin and other community partners. Microsoft also plans to open a lab at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to help companies incorporate AI technology into their businesses. Microsoft’s Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella, earned his master’s degree in computer science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Biden is expected to criticize the previous administration, particularly Trump, for the failure of the Foxconn project during his visit to the state.
The president’s visit to Wisconsin will also be an opportunity to highlight some of the administration’s key achievements, such as job growth, funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the “Chips Act” which invests in semiconductor chip manufacturing in the United States. Since Biden took office in 2021, 177,000 jobs have been added in Wisconsin, including 4,000 in Racine. Last year, Biden signed an executive order on AI to support entrepreneurs, help small businesses commercialize AI breakthroughs, and expand grants for AI research in areas like healthcare and climate change.
The White House has also introduced measures to regulate AI development, including requiring developers to share safety test results with the federal government before releasing AI systems to the public. Biden has called on Congress to pass legislation to regulate AI, including banning AI voice impersonation. He emphasized the need to balance the promise of AI with protecting Americans from its risks if left unregulated. Wisconsin has also received funding for infrastructure and clean energy projects as part of Biden’s “Investing in America” agenda.
Microsoft’s investment in Wisconsin’s AI training center comes at a time when the government is focusing on monitoring and regulating the risks associated with AI technology. Biden has emphasized the need for legislative action to regulate AI, highlighting potential risks such as AI voice impersonation. The White House has introduced measures to require developers to share safety test results with the government before releasing AI systems. Wisconsin has also received significant funding for infrastructure and clean energy projects as part of Biden’s broader agenda.
