Microsoft just launched Microsoft Elevate and the AI Economy Institute to push AI education and skilling worldwide.
The new Microsoft Elevate combines the company’s tech support, donations, and sales aimed at schools, community colleges, and nonprofits. It’s the successor to Microsoft Philanthropies and Tech for Social Impact but on a much bigger scale.
Over five years, Microsoft plans to pour $4 billion in cash and cloud/AI tech into global education and nonprofit programs. The goal: help 20 million people earn AI skills credentials within two years through the Microsoft Elevate Academy alone. 
Microsoft is teaming up with governments, including Germany’s biggest state North Rhine-Westphalia, and education platforms like Code.org’s “Hour of AI.” It’s also working with labor groups like the American Federation of Teachers to drive AI teaching directly to apprentices and union members.
The AI Economy Institute is a corporate think tank housed in Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab. It researches how AI changes work and education, feeding insights straight into Elevate’s programs and influencing public policy worldwide.
This move is Microsoft’s push to shape AI’s future with people first—not just tech. The company said the focus isn’t building machines to replace humans but ones that help people thrive.
Brad Smith, Microsoft President, stated:
Are we building machines to replace people, or to help people thrive? Are we trying to create AI that will outsmart humanity—or elevate it?
At Microsoft, we’re putting a clear stake in the ground: we believe in advancing AI by putting people first.
The $4 billion global investment aims to close AI skill gaps. Reports say by 2030, 59% of workers need new digital skills, yet 75% of youth lack necessary abilities for the AI economy. Microsoft Elevate targets filling that gap fast.
This is part of Microsoft’s long-term bet, backed by 50 years of tech and social impact experience, to make AI accessible and useful—not just for productivity but for meaningful work.
Read more about Microsoft Elevate here and the AI Economy Institute here.
