President Joe Biden has touted Microsoft's $3.3 billion investment plan to build a new AI data center in Wisconsin as a product of the economic growth under his administration.
According to Reuters, Biden contrasted this deal with the unfulfilled commitments of the Foxconn International Holdings negotiated during Donald Trump's presidency.
The previous $10 billion Foxconn project in Mount Pleasant never came to fruition. However, this same site is now slated for development by Microsoft.
Joe Biden Touts Microsoft's Plan, Contrasting It With Foxconn Failure Under Donald Trump's Era
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Joe Biden, along with Microsoft President Brad Smith and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, made an appearance at Gateway College's Integrated Manufacturing and Engineering Technology Center to unveil the expansion of Microsoft's data server complex.
During the event, Biden said Microsoft's investment would create thousands of jobs. The tech giant noted that it plans to add around 2,000 permanent jobs.
The announcement comes nearly seven years after Foxconn's plans were first announced. Foxconn was planning to build a massive LCD screen manufacturing center and add 13,000 jobs.
Speaking at a ceremonial groundbreaker for the planned Foxconn plant at the time, former President Donald Trump touted those plans, even calling the new Foxconn facility "the eighth wonder of the world."
However, Biden said the Microsoft development stands in contrast with Trump and state Republican officials' efforts in 2017 to bring Foxconn to Mount Pleasant.
Biden said on Wednesday: "Look what happened. They dug a hole with those golden shovels, and then they fell into it... Foxconn turned out to be just that, a con," according to Wisconsin Public Radio.
The president further noted that more than 700,000 jobs have been added in Wisconsin under his administration, which stemmed from his "Investing in America" initiative that aims to encourage domestic manufacturing and infrastructure investments.
"On my watch we make promises and keep promises," Biden said.
Generative AI Training Center of Microsoft to be Established by 2030
Microsoft has announced plans to establish a new center to train a significant number of workers in generative AI by 2030. This initiative is made possible through collaborations with United Way Wisconsin, United Way Racine, and other community partners.
In addition, there are plans to establish a lab at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus, which will assist companies and manufacturers in integrating this technology into their operations.
Last year, Joe Biden signed an executive order on AI to provide entrepreneurs with access to technical assistance and resources. Albany Herald reported that the order also aimed to support small businesses in commercializing AI breakthroughs and increase grants for AI research in important areas like healthcare and climate change.
Last year, Biden signed an executive order mandating that AI system developers share the results of their safety tests with the federal government before making them available to the public.
Join the Conversation