https://www.reuters.com/technology/microsoft-invest-32-bln-eur-germany-ai-push-2024-02-15/ Skip to main content Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionals Learn more aboutRefinitiv Reuters home * World Browse World + Africa + Americas + Asia Pacific + China + Europe + India + Israel and Hamas at War + Japan + Middle East + United Kingdom + United States + US Elections + Ukraine and Russia at War + Reuters Next * Business Browse Business + Aerospace & Defense + Autos & Transportation + Davos + Energy + Environment + Finance + Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals + Media & Telecom + Retail & Consumer + Future of Health + Future of Money + Take Five + World at Work * Markets Browse Markets + Asian Markets + Carbon Markets + Commodities + Currencies + Deals + Emerging Markets + ETFs + European Markets + Funds + Global Market Data + Rates & Bonds + Stocks + U.S. Markets + Wealth + Macro Matters * Sustainability Browse Sustainability + Boards, Policy & Regulation + Climate & Energy + Land Use & Biodiversity + Society & Equity + Sustainable Finance & Reporting + The Switch + Reuters Impact * Legal Browse Legal + Government + Legal Industry + Litigation + Transactional + US Supreme Court * Breakingviews Browse Breakingviews + Breakingviews Predictions * Technology Browse Technology + Cybersecurity + Space + Disrupted + Reuters Momentum * Investigations * More Sports + Athletics + Baseball + Basketball + Cricket + Cycling + Formula 1 + Golf + NFL + NHL + Soccer + Tennis ScienceLifestyleGraphics PicturesPodcastsFact CheckVideoSponsored Content + Reuters Plus + Coupons My View Register * Disrupted Microsoft bets on Germany in 3.2 bln euro AI push Reuters February 15, 202412:56 PM UTCUpdated ago * * * * * * * * German Chancellor Scholz visits Microsoft Berlin office, in Berlin German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits the Microsoft Berlin office, in Berlin, Germany, February 15, 2024. REUTERS/Liesa Johannssen Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab BERLIN, Feb 15 (Reuters) - U.S. software giant Microsoft will invest 3.2 billion euros ($3.44 billion) in Germany in the next two years, mostly in artificial intelligence, offering a boost to Europe's largest economy as it faces its worst slump in 20 years. With its biggest investment in Germany in the last 40 years Microsoft aims to double the capacity of its AI and data centre infrastructure in the country and expand its training programmes, said President Brad Smith on Thursday. "We are doing this because of the enormous confidence we have in Germany," he said, adding the export-oriented economy had constantly been at the forefront of technological change. Smith said Germany came second in Europe for the creation of AI based applications and that AI was increasingly being adopted by German companies but ranks 11th in Europe for AI skills. Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the move represented a vote of confidence in Germany which has also recently seen substantial investments in the battery, chip and pharmaceuticals sectors. Scholz, who is trying to strengthen Germany's business appeal, acknowledged the export-oriented country was feeling the effects of slower economic growth globally. "We are waiting for the moment when it grows faster again and then everything will be in place so companies that have invested here and those that invest from Germany are ready," he said. The DIHK chambers of industry and commerce warned earlier that the German economy would shrink by 0.5% this year, a second year of recession and the worst downturn in two decades. Companies have called for Social Democrat Scholz's unruly three-way coalition with the Greens and pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) to reform tax and cut bureaucracy. When asked about red tape and privacy issues, Smith said he hoped to see balanced, practical and thoughtful regulations. "The questions that people ask in Germany are really on the minds of people everywhere...if we can meet the standards here in Germany, we will meet the needs of the world," he said. Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC and Intel have committed to Germany in the last year, albeit with considerable state support. Marianne Janik, CEO of Microsoft Germany, declined to detail where investments would be made, but said the company was mostly looking in the western Rhineland region and around the banking hub of Frankfurt. ($1 = 0.9315 euros) Reporting by Madeline Chambers; editing by Bartosz Dabrowski and Matthias Williams, Kirsten Donovan Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab * * * * * Purchase Licensing Rights Read Next * Long March-2F carrier rocket, carrying Shenzhou-14 spacecraft and three astronauts, takes off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center DisruptedcategoryChina successfully launches a pilot reusable spacecraft, state media reportAugust 5, 2022 * New Apple products go on sale at flagship Apple Store in New York DisruptedcategoryApple forecasts faster sales growth, strong iPhone demand despite glum economyJuly 29, 2022 * Facebook's new rebrand logo Meta is seen on smartpone in front of displayed logo of Facebook, Messenger, Intagram, Whatsapp, Oculus in this illustration taken DisruptedcategoryMeta posts first-ever revenue drop as inflation throttles ad salesJuly 28, 2022 * YouTube logo in Los Angeles DisruptedcategoryYouTube's quarter shows problems Meta may face: TikTok, weakening economyJuly 28, 2022 LSEG Workspace Technology * United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks in Kampala, Uganda UN chief calls on tech firms to stop profiting from 'toxic content' Technologycategory * February 16, 2024 The head of the United Nations on Friday called for technology firms to stop profiting from the proliferation of toxic content after accusing social media platforms of complicity in fuelling antisemitism, racism and anti-Muslim bigotry. * Illustration shows Applied Materials logo TechnologycategoryApplied Materials hits record high on strong forecast from AI boostFebruary 16, 2024 * Woman holds smartphone with Meta logo in front of a displayed Facebook's new rebrand logo Meta in this illustration picture TechnologycategoryEU privacy watchdogs urged to oppose Meta's paid ad-free serviceFebruary 16, 2024 * FILE PHOTO: Illustration shows OpenAI logo TechnologycategoryAdvisory firm Ankura launches generative AI tool crafted with ChatGPT developerFebruary 16, 2024 * Apple logo at an Apple store in Paris TechnologycategoryApple plans AI-based code completion tool -reportFebruary 15, 2024 Site Index Browse * World * Business * Markets * Sustainability * Legal * Breakingviews * Technology * Investigations, opens new tab * Sports * Science * Lifestyle About Reuters * About Reuters, opens new tab * Careers, opens new tab * Reuters News Agency, opens new tab * Brand Attribution Guidelines, opens new tab * Reuters Leadership, opens new tab * Reuters Fact Check, opens new tab * Reuters Diversity Report, opens new tab Stay Informed * Download the App (iOS), opens new tab * Download the App (Android), opens new tab * Newsletters, opens new tab Information you can trust Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world's largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. 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