“We need more women in tech. We need more females in the development world and engineering world,” stated Miki Tsusaka, President of Microsoft Japan, in a recent interview. Her statement underscored the company’s commitment to upskilling Japanese citizens, especially women, as part of their $2.9 billion investment in the country.
Microsoft’s ambitious plan has four key components. Tsusaka elaborated: “There’s also a reskilling plan of three million citizens of Japan.” Additionally, the tech giant will establish its first Microsoft Research Center in the country, aiming to “focus on the biggest problems of Japan, like aging.”
“The best number I’ve seen from the government is that generative AI is supposed to grow our economy by six points in 2025,” said Tsusaka, recognizing AI’s potential impact. “You don’t see many other drivers of that kind of growth in our economy.” However, she cautioned: “You can’t use AI without security. It’s security, security, security.”
Tsusaka stressed Microsoft’s collaborative approach with both the government and private sector.
“We work hand in hand with the government at the national level and at the local level and at the community level,” she said. “We also work with companies because I don’t think we can just depend on governments to keep us safe and secure.”
With this substantial investment and strategic partnerships, Microsoft aims to unlock Japan’s AI potential while prioritizing security and inclusivity.
