Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith joined CEOs and other leaders from around southeastern Wisconsin for a listening session this week, discussing several issues that have been permeating the news, social media and conversations around the water cooler.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries, research and daily life – powering everything from smart services to advanced analytics. Behind every AI application is a network of data centers, the infrastructure that enables high-speed computing and large-scale data processing.
“Do everything you can to serve the legacy of our community while moving us forward, so we can maintain the greatness that we’ve enjoyed.” That was the request of Ted Neitzke, Mayor of Port Washington, just minutes before community leaders, business executives, tradespeople and other stakeholders turned the ceremonial dirt during the
Gov. Tony Evers today joined Microsoft officials and local leaders to announce that Microsoft is investing an additional $4 billion to further expand its planned datacenter campus in Mount Pleasant, raising Microsoft’s total investment in Wisconsin to more than $7 billion.
One glance at the Conway Projects Database shows this progress. From Microsoft’s $3.3 AI data center development in Mount Pleasant to Eli Lilly’s $3.5 billion expansion of its pharmaceutical manufacturing campus in Kenosha County, Wisconsin is experiencing a technology and manufacturing boom.
Wisconsin has emerged as a hot spot for hyper-scale data centers, and the state’s top economic development official predicts more such projects.
Data centers are the new buzz for construction and development in Wisconsin as tech companies look to the Great Lakes for abundant, undeveloped land and a steady supply of fresh water. These high-tech facilities, which store and process large amounts of data, are becoming more sought after as artificial intelligence development advances.