Microsoft has launched a new AI skills initiative to help one million people across A/NZ to gain relevant training by 2026.  The software giant will work closely with government, business, education and not-for-profit partners and will provide free resources through its various platforms.  These include the new AI Skills Navigator, which is an AI-powered agent to help learners find the right AI skilling path, and Microsoft Learn, Viva Learning, LinkedIn and GitHub.  It will also deliver curated content specific to the public sector, the education sector and not-for-profit organisations. In New Zealand, Microsoft will continue working with educational institutions such as Te Pūkenga to expand AI-related course materials. The initiative builds on Microsoft’s October 2023 commitment to help train 300,000 Australians with digital skills within two years, a target that is on track to be achieved by early 2025.  It has been predicted that AI could create up to 200,000 AI-related jobs in Australia alone by 2030, ranging from software programming and sales roles to ‘digital tradies’ who run data centres. “AI is a new general-purpose technology that can boost productivity across every sector and create new markets,” Microsoft A/NZ managing director Steven Worrall said.  “Because its impact will be so wide-reaching, we need to ensure that as many people as possible can access and benefit from the technology. That will require tools, infrastructure and training, so we’re working hard on all those fronts.” Microsoft will provide AI skills to businesses across Australia and New Zealand by extending access to existing training programs such as the AI Academy, which is delivered in partnership with Akkodis and has been trialled with a number of enterprises, counting more than 10,000 people gaining AI-related skills through the program. In addition, Microsoft will support small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in Australia through initiatives such as the AI Business Boost program, and is currently exploring industry partnerships with organisations including Business NSW and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. These partnerships, plus other activities in collaboration with NBN, will aim to engage more than 20,000 SMBs with a focus on using AI to bridge the skills gap. Extends cloud region to WA Microsoft has also extended its global data centre footprint to include an Azure Extended Zone to Perth by mid-2025.  In bringing cloud services closer to users in WA, Microsoft aims to reduce latency and improve service delivery for public and private sector customers. The WA Government will be one of the first organisations to leverage the new infrastructure, with a focus on healthcare, education and core government operations. Launched by the WA Government in August 2024, the Digital Industries Acceleration Strategy aims to ensure businesses and industries thrive by being digitally secure, enabled and empowered. It complements the government’s Digital Strategy for the Western Australian Government 2021-2025 and the Digital Inclusion in WA Blueprint.  Customers that will benefit from the expansion include resources organisations Roy Hill and Northern Star Resources.  Other public and private sector organisations in WA have leveraged Microsoft’s cloud services include The University of Western Australia, Western Australia Return Recycle Renew Limited, Western Power and Woodside Energy. Last year Microsoft revealed it was investing $5 billion in expanding its hyperscale cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in Australia over the next two years. The funding was going towards a myriad of projects, chief of all being the expansion of its computing capacity by approximately 250 per cent to meet growing demand for cloud computing services. This capacity, in turn, will be needed to pave the way for AI development and usage.