Google And Amazon Announce Investments To Boost Their Data Center Capabilities And Other Projects To Propel AI Adoption Globally. Read On!

As the world plunges into the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution and other cloud-based technology, businesses find the need to bolster their infrastructure, cloud computing services and data center capabilities and other products and services cater to real-time data usage, data storage and data management. 

In the last week, Google and Amazon have each come out with announcements centered around boosting their data center capabilities with big investments, bringing a wide range of benefits.

So, what did the two companies announce and how will it help? Let’s explore!
 

What Did Google Announce?

 

• Through a blog post published on its website, Google announced an investment of $3 billion to build and expand its data center campuses in the US states of Virginia and Indiana.

• The investment in Virginia includes $1 billion being used to expand three of its existing data center campuses, bringing its total investment in the state to over $4 billion.

• The Indiana investment consists of $2 billion being poured into Google's newest data center campus in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

• The move comes as Google looks to reinforce its data centers that empower its prizewinning products, which include Google Search, YouTube, Maps and more.

• Ahead of this, the company is also announcing a $75 million Google AI Opportunity Fund, which focuses on working with “nonprofit, education and other sectors to train one million Americans of all backgrounds and provide them with AI skills at no cost.”

• The first two recipients of the fund include the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) and Goodwill, enabling upskilling in artificial intelligence. 

• Additionally, Google will be launching the Google AI Essentials course, aimed at teaching foundational AI skills to workers.

• Through the blog post, Ruth Porat, President & Chief Investment Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Alphabet and Google, said, “One of the reasons I am proud to work at Google is our mission: to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.”

• [Contd.] “Google’s mission is as relevant now as it was 25 years ago when the company was founded. That is why, today, we are announcing a series of new investments in technical infrastructure and social impact — helping us to deliver our mission.”

• [Contd.] “Beyond the nonprofit sector, Google is also joining forces with employers, such as Citigroup, and educational institutions, such as Miami Dade College, to expand access to AI skilling programs.”

 

What Did Amazon Announce?

 

• Through a news article published on its website, Amazon announced it would be investing $11 billion in the US state of Indiana, through AWS (Amazon Web Services), its cloud-computing division, to build new data centers in St. Joseph County.

• The investment marks the largest capital investment in the state’s history.

• The move is believed to generate at least more than 1,000 new jobs, adding to the already 26,000 full-time and part-time jobs the company created in the state.

• The investment adds to Amazon’s long-term commitment to Indiana, which includes over $21.5 billion being invested since 2010, adding $19.8 billion to the state’s GDP.

• Additionally, the company will build four solar farms and a wind farm that will generate renewable energy enough to power around 146,000 homes, as well as contributing up to $7 million to enhance the state’s road infrastructure around the planned development.

• The move will also see AWS launch the $100,000 AWS InCommunities St. Joseph County Community Fund, aimed at supporting initiatives focused on six key themes.

• First, science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) education. Second, sustainability and environment. Third, economic development. Fourth, future workforce development. Fifth, inclusion, diversity and equity. Sixth, homelessness, hunger, health and well-being.

• Furthermore, AWS will start a fund to support a curated set of STEAM awareness and learning opportunities for K-12 school systems, as well as empower local communities through various educational programs and skills training opportunities.

• Roger Wehner, AWS director of economic development, said, “AWS’s unwavering commitment to supporting our customers and helping drive digital transformation has been evident through our infrastructure investments across the United States.”

• [Contd.] “Building upon this, we are thrilled to be expanding our operations in Indiana through this planned $11 billion investment, which will create numerous well-paying job opportunities and tap into the state's burgeoning tech sector, while contributing significantly to the state's growing economy.”

• [Contd.] “This investment will include our continuing commitment to fostering workforce development and educational initiatives in areas where we operate, and we look forward to helping nurture the next generation of talent in the Hoosier State.”

Do you think these moves by both the companies will help it further its position in the market?

Let us know in the comments below!