BENGALURU: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the company's significant plans for India's AI landscape. Nadella expressed gratitude for Modi's leadership, acknowledging the drive to position India as an "AI-first" nation while ensuring appropriate guardrails for data privacy and a secure digital future.

During their recent discussions, they emphasized the importance of tech innovation and the ethical application of AI. Modi appreciated Microsoft's ambitious $3 billion investment to expand Azure and AI capabilities in India, which Nadella described as the "single largest expansion" in the country. The investment underscores India’s potential as a key market for U.S. tech companies, driven by its vast population and increasing internet accessibility (Reuters).

This deal involves training 10 million individuals in AI skills by 2030, enhancing AI education in urban and rural areas. "It was indeed a delight to meet you, @satyanadella! Glad to know about Microsoft's ambitious expansion and investment plans in India," Modi noted in a response to Nadella's remarks. Nadella's visit is part of a broader Microsoft AI tour, aiming to promote AI innovation across the nation.

Moreover, Microsoft recently announced plans to invest about $80 billion globally to expand its data centers for AI model training and cloud-based applications, signifying growing global investments in the AI sector as tech giants look to harness the potential of artificial intelligence.