Microsoft President Brad Smith announced Microsoft Elevate today.
According to a blog by Microsoft President Brad Smith, Redmond-based Microsoft today announced Microsoft Elevate and the new corporate think tank, Microsoft AI Economy Institute, to equip people around the world with the skills, knowledge and tools to succeed in AI.
Smith's complete blog is here.
Microsoft Elevate brings its technology support to one organization. Donations; Sales at schools, community colleges and nonprofit organizations. Successfully expands the technology work of Microsoft charities and social impact teams supporting nonprofits, Smith writes.
More broadly, this represents the next chapter on Microsoft's corporate philanthropy and its non-commercial business model, writes Smith.
“Today, we are announcing that over $4 billion in cash and AI and cloud technology will be donated globally to K-12 schools, community and technical colleges and nonprofits over the next five years,” he wrote.
Additionally, Microsoft Elevate Academy will help 20 million people acquire high-demand AI skills qualifications, ranging from basic flow to advanced technical training, by expanding the academy over the next two years, Smith says. Microsoft Elevate works closely with other Microsoft groups, including LinkedIn and Github, to provide AI education and skills on a large scale. And it acts as a public policy advocate around the world, promoting AI education and training for others.
Microsoft partners with national, state and local governments. It focuses on advances in AI education and training at schools, community colleges and nonprofit organizations. We launch a new and innovative initiative. It built on existing partnerships with major labor organizations, as Microsoft announced with the American Federation of Teachers on Tuesday. Smith will need to create more skills to create the skills the world needs to make AI work.
“At Microsoft, we have a clear bet on the ground. We believe in moving AI forward by putting people first,” Smith said.
That includes helping people shape the future of work, and conversations about AI and work must start with people, not just productivity. Partnerships are key to success, allowing a wide range of stakeholders to enter where AI is moving forward. It means working with governments, educators, trade unions, employers and community leaders to ensure that AI reflects human values and meets human needs.
To support Microsoft's deeper research and policy insights, Microsoft Elevate will work with the Microsoft AI Economy Institute, a new kind of corporate think tank designed to bridge the gap between technological innovation and social impact, Smith writes. The think tank was released in January.
Housed for outstanding labs within AI and built on the Microsoft Research tradition, the institute will bring together researcher sponsors and conveners to explore how AI is reshaping work, education and productivity. It focuses on turning these insights into real-world solutions that inform Microsoft's strategy and public policy involvement. The institute's work will directly inform Microsoft Elevate's skills programmes and initiatives, and will help create the training programs, partnerships and policy frameworks needed to prepare people for the AI economy, he said.
