Microsoft promotes US-led AI development

The world’s largest software company Microsoft is advocating for increased government support of American AI development and global deployment as Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House.

Investment plans and strategic positioning: Microsoft plans to invest $80 billion in new data centers during fiscal year 2025, with more than half of this investment targeted for U.S. facilities.

• Brad Smith, Microsoft’s President and General Counsel, emphasized the company’s commitment to American economic competitiveness through a recent blog post
• The company is positioning AI as the “electricity of our age” and argues that the next four years could establish America’s economic dominance for decades to come
• The tech giant plans to invest over $35 billion across 14 countries within three years to build AI and cloud infrastructure

Historical context and policy alignment: Microsoft is strategically aligning its messaging with Trump’s previous AI initiatives while calling for expanded support.

• The company references Trump’s 2019 executive order “Maintaining American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence” as a foundation for future policy
• Smith advocates for expanding federal investments in AI research and improving access to federal data and computing resources
• Microsoft is pushing for “pragmatic export control policy” while warning against “heavy-handed regulations” that could slow private sector progress

Global competition dynamics: Microsoft frames its initiative as a critical response to China’s growing influence in global AI development.

• The company highlights China’s strategy of offering subsidized chip access and AI infrastructure to developing nations
• Microsoft emphasizes its presence in 40 countries, including regions where China has made significant Belt and Road investments
• Smith argues that countries standardizing on Chinese AI platforms may become dependent on them long-term

European considerations: The European response to this American-first AI approach faces several complexities and challenges.

• Despite Microsoft’s €3.2 billion investment pledge in Germany, European regulators have established strict AI guidelines through the AI Act
• AI industry lobbyists are working to modify regulations to protect business interests
• Europe’s digital sovereignty efforts conflict with increasing dependence on U.S. technology infrastructure

Strategic implications: The success of Microsoft’s American-first AI strategy will largely depend on geopolitical dynamics and regulatory environments in key markets, while potentially accelerating the fragmentation of global technology ecosystems along national lines.