Mentorship and AI are unlocking new opportunities for Illinois students. The Microsoft TechSpark program is partnering with the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition to connect students with STEM mentors, expand access to real-world skills, and create pathways to future careers. TechSpark has helped over 65,000 people engage in building career-ready skills and provided support for a stronger, more inclusive talent ecosystem. Read more about how these efforts drive local innovation and economic growth in the latest TechSpark Impact Report: https://msft.it/6045Q36vS
Microsoft On the Issues
Technology, Information and Internet
Redmond, Washington 91,708 followers
News & perspectives on today's pressing tech issues, AI, sustainability, security and more for #Microsoft. 👇
About us
News and perspectives on the future of tech, public policy and philanthropic topics for #Microsoft. ➡️ https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/
- Website
-
https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/
External link for Microsoft On the Issues
- Industry
- Technology, Information and Internet
- Company size
- 10,001+ employees
- Headquarters
- Redmond, Washington
- Specialties
- technology, government affairs, AI and Data, privacy, cybersecurity, tech news, tech issues, accessibility, diversity and inclusion, sustainability, digital skilling, AI, Affordable Housing, Public Affairs, tech executives, responsible AI, and AI ethics
Updates
-
In the first five years of Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund, we’ve allocated $800M+ across energy systems, natural systems, and industrial supply chains—with $194M remaining to help drive the next wave of climate solutions. What we’re building toward is bigger than any single technology; it’s the ability to validate new pathways, bridge projects to mainstream capital, and scale solutions faster. With 2030 in sight, we’re focused on what it takes to translate ambitious climate goals into durable markets and real-world impact. ➡️ Swipe for a quick look at what we’ve learned and where we’re headed, and dive into the latest issue of Signal Magazine for stories at the intersection of technology, policy, and progress: https://msft.it/6049QzD3W
-
“Language determines who gets to use AI—remaining inaccessible when people can’t engage with it in their own language,” says Inbal Becker-Reshef, Managing Director, Microsoft AI for Good Lab. In Nunavut, this challenge is especially urgent. Over 70% of Inuit report Inuktut as their native tongue, yet until recently, digital tools and large language models did not adequately reflect its dialects. Through Microsoft's partnership with the Government of Nunavut, Microsoft is helping bring Inuktut into modern digital environments; supporting community-led language preservation, translation, and access across education, healthcare, and everyday life. In the age of AI, ensuring every language has a voice isn’t optional; it’s essential to culture, community, and inclusion. Learn how this work is helping expand access in the age of AI: https://lnkd.in/dMPPDiFB
-
More than 300,000 people live in Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp, yet for years large sections of the community remained unmapped—making it difficult to plan reliable access to energy and essential services. Microsoft's AI for Good Lab is partnering with humanitarian organizations to close that gap. Using AI‑assisted satellite analysis and open‑source mapping, the team identified thousands of structures and detailed energy‑use patterns, providing the data needed to design solar microgrids where they can deliver the greatest impact. These insights are already shaping new clean‑energy investments and strengthening planning models, and this work reflects our broader commitment to expanding access to sustainable power and digital tools for communities often overlooked in global development efforts: helping partners make informed decisions that enhance safety, resilience, and opportunity across Kakuma. See what’s possible when technology, partners, and community expertise come together: https://msft.it/6042Q1IX0
-
Cybercrime isn’t DIY anymore—it’s on‑demand. Phishing-as-a-service is making it easier for attackers to target organizations at scale. Think of it like a subscription box for cybercrime. Instead of writing a scam email from scratch, anyone can pay for a prebuilt kit: convincing emails, fake login pages, CAPTCHAs—all designed to trick people into handing over their passwords. No technical expertise required. RaccoonO365 is one example of how these services can quickly put sensitive information and operations at risk, ultimately affecting thousands of customers. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit worked with partners to disrupt RaccoonO365, seizing malicious domains and supporting law enforcement to help protect organizations and individuals worldwide. https://msft.it/6048QB7cI
-
-
As digital infrastructure expands globally, the demand for clean energy, sustainable materials, and resilient supply chains is rising with it. Co-authored by Melanie Nakagawa and GM of Sustainability Markets and Climate Innovation Fund Brandon Middaugh, this month’s Sustainably Speaking dives into how Microsoft is helping build the markets needed to meet that demand through strategic investments, regional partnerships, and a market‑shaping approach that’s driving measurable impact. Inside this issue: 🌱 Five lessons from five years of the Climate Innovation Fund 🔄 New investments across energy, circularity, and carbon removal 🤝 Partner perspectives on the future of power transmission 📊 Data signals from a rapidly evolving climate tech ecosystem Read the full newsletter and subscribe to get future editions delivered monthly 📩
-
How can higher education help close the AI opportunity gap? The new book “Degrees of Change: What AI Means for Education and the Next Generation,” authored by Juan M. Lavista Ferres and featuring a foreword by Brad Smith, draws on research from the first cohort of Microsoft’s AI Economy Institute and explores how colleges and universities can lead in preparing society for the AI era. The research highlights imperatives for future-ready education: 📚 Evolve curricula to embed AI and ethics literacy for all 🧠 Bridge the knowledge gap with dual technical and societal fluency 🏢 Recognize that AI literacy is now a core requirement for workforce readiness 🤝 Foster collaboration across academia, industry, and government to ensure adaptable education As AI reshapes economies, higher education’s role is more critical than ever. Together, we can build bridges for an inclusive future. Learn more about the AI Economy Institute: https://lnkd.in/g-Anc9cN
-
-
Microsoft On the Issues reposted this
LIVE PREMIERE today at 12 pm ET/6 pm CEST: How can investment in AI be turned into execution? CNN's Richard Quest moderates our #GlobalStage discussion on this issue from #WEF26 with Rishi Sunak, Strive Masiyiwa, Arancha González Laya, Brad Smith, & Ian Bremmer. Watch here on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/e2sSEFae
-
-
Microsoft On the Issues reposted this
Microsoft is committed to help the UN’s next-era by bringing together innovation, affordability, AI capacity-building, and partner collaboration. Our goal is to help UN teams deliver with greater agility, accountability, and resilience. We meet the UN where it is—supporting its mandates with responsible technology, strengthening transparency and trust, and aligning resources to scale proven solutions across the system. Together, we can drive real impact and unlock new possibilities. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gkSzHtcB
-
AI-powered programs are creating real opportunities for entrepreneurs by making advanced technology accessible early in their journey. With support from Microsoft TechSpark, Innovation Depot in Birmingham embedded AI into early-stage founder programs Voltage and Boost, helping non-technical entrepreneurs prototype faster, gain confidence, and build smarter from the start. This approach shows that expanding access to AI can create more inclusive and capable startup ecosystems. Read more about how TechSpark is accelerating local entrepreneurship: https://msft.it/6049tAXB9
-