Global tech giant Microsoft announced plans to invest US$80 billion in data center construction during the current fiscal year, with over half allocated to United States infrastructure, according to its president Brad Smith.

This marks a significant increase from the US$50 billion invested in the previous fiscal year to expand server farms for growing AI demand. The move reflects efforts by cloud providers like Microsoft and Amazon to improve AI application capacities.

Smith emphasized balanced AI regulations, cautioning against restrictive policies and advocating for export controls that safeguard security. It also seeks to preserve United States’ competitiveness and aid allied nations.