Microsoft commits $4B to train 20M people in AI skills globally

Microsoft plans to donate $4 billion worth of cash, technology and training over the next five years to enhance artificial intelligence education worldwide. The commitment flows through a new organization called Microsoft Elevate, which will employ about 300 people with the goal of helping more than 20 million people earn AI credentials.

The big picture: Microsoft is positioning itself as a responsible AI leader while its stock reaches record highs, with the company valued at $3.74 trillion following an analyst upgrade based on its AI business prospects.

Key details: Microsoft President Brad Smith announced the initiative at Seattle’s Museum of History & Industry, describing it as a successor to the company’s longtime Microsoft Philanthropies team.

• The program focuses on teaching people how to use autonomous AI models in everyday work across all industries.
• Microsoft has spent $80 billion since July 2024 building data centers globally to support AI infrastructure.
• The company’s stock hit a record high of $506.78 per share on Wednesday.

Why this matters: Microsoft is balancing its AI ambitions with workforce concerns, as competitors like Amazon have been more direct about potential job losses from AI implementation.

• Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said last month that the company’s corporate head count could fall due to AI-driven efficiencies.
• Microsoft laid off 15,000 employees over the past two months, though Smith said AI-induced redundancy wasn’t the “predominant factor.”

What they’re saying: Microsoft emphasizes building collaborative rather than replacement technology.

• “There’s a north star that guides us at Microsoft,” Smith said. “We need to use AI to help us think more, not less.”
• “I think we’re going to have even more jobs in every part of the economy that make use of AI tools and enhanced AI skills,” Smith added. “That’s the key thing.”
• The goal is not about building “machines that replace us,” Smith said, but rather “to build machines that help us do more and do it better.”

Industry context: The tech sector embraced AI after OpenAI launched ChatGPT in late 2022, with the focus now shifting from generative AI to agentic AI—artificial “agents” that can make decisions and complete tasks autonomously.

• Microsoft sees lucrative potential in agentic AI technology.
• The company has historically committed resources to schools and workforce development during previous tech booms.
• Unlike past decades of rapid hiring, tech companies are now prioritizing infrastructure investment over workforce expansion.