Microsofts $3.3 billion investment in Wisconsin

Plus: AI Summit New York

May 10, 2024

In today's email

  1. 🤖 AI Summit New York - On Demand Video

  2. 💰Microsofts $3.3 billion investment in Wisconsin

  3. 📈The Generative AI Tipping Point

  4. 📲 TikTok to Label AI-Generated Content with Digital Watermark

  5. 🤯 Quick Takes

Read Time: 5 Minutes

AI-Powered Future of Industries: Use cases from across the board

AI Summit New York - On Demand Video

  • Learn from cross-industry leaders about their AI projects, challenges and plans for 2024 and beyond

  • What’s next – key trends, for the AI powered future of industries?

In the Know​
​Microsofts $3.3 billion investment in Wisconsin

Microsoft's announcement of a $3.3 billion investment package underscores its dedication to leveraging AI to propel Wisconsin's economy into the future. Through strategic partnerships, workforce training initiatives, and infrastructure development, Microsoft aims to empower businesses, individuals, and communities to thrive in the digital age.

Key Points:

  • Investing in Cloud and AI Infrastructure:

    • Microsoft commits $3.3 billion to expand cloud and AI infrastructure, catalyzing job creation and economic growth.

    • A state-of-the-art datacenter campus in Mount Pleasant will serve as a hub for advanced cloud services and AI applications.

    • Collaboration with Gateway Technical College to establish a Data Center Academy will train and certify students for careers in the IT sector.

  • Transforming Businesses with AI Innovation:

    • Establishment of a manufacturing-focused AI Co-Innovation Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to drive AI-driven solutions for businesses.

    • Collaboration with TitletownTech in Green Bay to support regional AI innovation initiatives.

  • Creating a Future-Ready Workforce:

    • Partnership with United Way Wisconsin and other community organizations to upskill over 100,000 residents in generative AI by 2030.

    • Training programs for AI software developers and immersive boot camps for business leaders.

  • Reinforcing Community Engagement:

    • Investment in local education and youth employment programs to support STEM education and job opportunities.

    • Distribution of Equity Through Technology and STEAM Grant Funds to address disparities and support under-resourced communities.

Microsoft's multi-faceted investment strategy represents a pivotal moment for Southeast Wisconsin, signaling a new era of economic prosperity driven by AI innovation and collaboration. By equipping individuals with essential AI skills, fostering industry partnerships, and prioritizing community engagement, Microsoft is laying the foundation for a future where opportunity is accessible to all.

The Generative AI Tipping Point

Learn, from over 1,200 security and IT leaders, how organizations around the world are handling the latest developments in generative AI.

If your organization has banned the use of generative AI tools or is curious about them, you’ll want to read this study. In this survey of over 1200 security and IT leaders, ExtraHop examines how organizations around the world are handling the latest developments in generative AI. 

  • Security isn’t the top priority for leaders, but it should be. Discover what respondents were most concerned about.

  • Learn why using a firewall to block these tools is a losing strategy.

  • Get eight tips for implementing generative AI tools safely and securely in your organization.

  • See how your organization’s use of AI stacks up in your industry and region.        

TikTok to Label AI-Generated Content with Digital Watermark

Image: TikTok

TikTok announced plans to implement digital watermarking, known as Content Credentials, to label images and videos created using artificial intelligence on its platform. This move comes amid concerns from researchers about the potential misuse of AI-generated content, particularly in the context of U.S. elections, leading TikTok and other tech firms to take proactive measures to combat such issues.

The Content Credentials technology, championed by the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity and adopted by companies like OpenAI, aims to ensure transparency and authenticity in digital content by marking AI-generated creations with a watermark. With TikTok's implementation, both the generative AI tool creator and the platform must agree to use the industry standard, ensuring clearer identification and labeling of AI-generated content uploaded to the platform.

Quick Takes

  • Google DeepMind introduces AlphaFold 3: Google DeepMind's AlphaFold 3 introduces a revolutionary model that predicts the structure and interactions of all biological molecules with unparalleled accuracy, offering transformative potential for drug discovery and beyond. Its evolutionary architecture and diffusion network enable precise modeling of complex cellular processes, driving innovation in healthcare, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.

  • Apple's AI Integration Strategy: Apple plans to roll out forthcoming artificial intelligence features via its in-house chip-powered data centers this year, aiming to embed generative AI into its products. These data centers, equipped with Apple's own chips, will process advanced AI tasks, complementing on-device processing for simpler tasks, signaling a strategic move towards a more integrated AI ecosystem.