Microsoft Boosts Sweden's AI Power with $3.2 B Investment

Microsoft is making a huge investment in Sweden to enhance its AI and cloud infrastructure. The company is putting $3.2 billion (€2.9 billion) into this initiative, making it the biggest investment Microsoft has ever made in the Nordic region.

Expanding AI Capabilities
The goal of this investment is to make Sweden more competitive in the growing field of artificial intelligence, including the development of large language model (LLM) models. To achieve this, Microsoft will install 20,000 advanced GPUs in its data centers in Sandviken, Gävle, and Staffanstorp. These GPUs, which are crucial for AI and LLM model training, will primarily be from Nvidia. Microsoft is also considering using chips from AMD, alongside its own semiconductors, to power this expansion into LLM models and other AI applications.

Training the Workforce
Over the next three years, Microsoft plans to provide AI skills training to 250,000 people in Sweden. This training will be available in schools, universities, organizations, and the public sector, covering about 2.4% of the Swedish population. The training program will focus on technical and vocational education for students, retraining for specific industries, and advanced training for developers. Sweden is already in high demand for AI skills, ranking third globally according to Stanford University's AI Index Report.

Microsoft's Commitment to the Nordics
Brad Smith, Microsoft's President, stated that the company is committed to increasing accessibility and accelerating the introduction of AI throughout the Nordic countries, which include Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Despite the rapid increase in AI use in these countries, Sweden is currently behind its neighbors. A report by the Danish think tank Mandag Morgen shows that about 45% of Swedish businesses and organizations use AI, compared to 48% in Denmark, 52% in Norway, and 61% in Finland.

Microsoft's significant investment and initiatives aim to close this gap and ensure Sweden can compete more effectively in the Artificial Intelligence sector. By enhancing its data infrastructure and training a substantial part of the population, Microsoft is laying the groundwork for a future where AI plays a central role in Sweden’s economy and workforce.