Microsoft has announced plans to invest up to $50 billion by 2030 to reduce what it says is a widening global gap in access to artificial intelligence, as concerns grow that rapid advances in AI could deepen economic and digital inequalities between countries.
‘Artificial intelligence is advancing at extraordinary speed, but its benefits are not reaching everyone equally,’ the company said in a statement. ‘Without urgent and deliberate action, the divide between countries that can build and use AI and those that cannot will continue to grow.’
Microsoft said the investment will focus on expanding cloud and digital infrastructure, improving access to high-performance computing, and supporting AI skills development in regions that have lagged behind wealthier economies. The company added that infrastructure alone is not enough. ‘Access to AI must also include access to skills, local innovation, and technologies that reflect local languages and realities,’ it said.
The technology firm plans to expand training programmes for developers, students, public-sector workers, and small businesses, with the aim of helping countries build their own AI capabilities rather than relying entirely on tools developed elsewhere. ‘Every country should have the opportunity to develop and use AI in ways that serve its people and its economy,’ Microsoft said.
The pledge comes as governments and international organisations increasingly warn that AI could reinforce global inequalities if computing power, data centres, and specialised talent remain concentrated in a small number of countries. The announcement reflects growing expectations of large global technology companies. ‘There is rising pressure on firms leading the AI boom to ensure it does not leave large parts of the world behind,’ an analyst said.
While Microsoft’s commitment is among the largest publicly announced efforts to promote more inclusive AI development, experts caution that its impact will depend on how effectively the funds are deployed and whether partnerships with governments and local institutions are sustained. ‘The scale is significant, but outcomes will depend on execution and long-term accountability,’ one industry observer said.
As artificial intelligence becomes more deeply embedded in economies and public services worldwide, Microsoft said its goal is to ensure AI ‘drives shared progress rather than becoming another source of global inequality’ by the end of the decade.”
Senior Reporter/Editor
Bio: Ugochukwu is a freelance journalist and Editor at AIbase.ng, with a strong professional focus on investigative reporting. He holds a degree in Mass Communication and brings extensive experience in news gathering, reporting, and editorial writing. With over a decade of active engagement across diverse news outlets, he contributes in-depth analytical, practical, and expository articles exploring artificial intelligence and its real-world impact. His seasoned newsroom experience and well-established information networks provide AIbase.ng with credible, timely, and high-quality coverage of emerging AI developments.