Latest news with #LaurenceSi
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Microsoft to accelerate AI innovation through BINA AI initiative
KUALA LUMPUR: Microsoft unveiled the BINA AI Malaysia, an initiative to support the country's next phase of AI transformation. Microsoft Malaysia managing director Laurence Si said the initiative is a renewed commitment to Malaysia's resilient, inclusive and sustainable AI economy, and represents more than just providing infrastructure and tech tools. "It is our commitment to work side by side with the government, industry partners and community to scale AI adoptions, drive innovation and develop future-ready talents," he said at Microsoft AI Tour here today.
BusinessToday
28-04-2025
- Business
- BusinessToday
PayNet Expands Program Akar With AI Talent Engine For Malaysia's Financial Sector
Second row: (5th from the left) Jun Maria Abdullah Tan, Senior Director, PayNet Akar; (9th from the left) Farhan Ahmad, GCEO, PayNet; (10th from the left) Laurence Si, Managing Director, Microsoft Malaysia. Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) has launched the second phase of Program Akar, aimed at developing AI and data science talent for Malaysia's financial services industry. 100 students will join the new cohort this year, beginning with 25 from Multimedia University (MMU) and expanding to 75 from other local universities by year-end. The enhanced curriculum focuses on three key areas: Values-Driven Enrichment Digital Payment Knowledge AI & Data Science Mastery The programme, powered by Microsoft under its AIForMYFuture initiative, is delivered in partnership with PEOPLElogy Berhad and Futuresparx Sdn Bhd. Students will receive mentorship, hands-on learning, and job placement opportunities within leading financial institutions. Farhan Ahmad, Group CEO of PayNet, said, 'Program Akar is about more than preparing students for jobs. It's about preparing them to lead Malaysia's digital economy with purpose.' Laurence Si, Managing Director of Microsoft Malaysia, added, 'By collaborating with PayNet through Program Akar, we're helping build a generation of talent equipped with the digital and AI skills to thrive, in line with Microsoft's AIForMYFuture initiative.' Program Akar was first introduced in July 2024 in collaboration with AWS, with a focus on cloud and digital payments. Related
Miami Herald
21-03-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Analysts revisit Microsoft stock price target after shares slump
People have been dropping the line "in the driver's seat" for more than 100 years now and they're not about to slow down. The phrase, meaning to be in charge or in control, was also the title of a 1974 movie starring Elizabeth Taylor as well as a 1978 song by Sniff 'n' the Tears. Get expert insights and actionable trade alerts from veteran investing experts and hedge fund managers. Join TheStreet Pro today and get first month FREE And analysts recently used the term to describe Microsoft's (MSFT) dominance when it comes to deploying AI in the cloud. Cloud AI, or AI as a Service, is an integration that enables users to access AI tools and capabilities via the cloud. AIaaS makes the processing of large datasets easier, enabling businesses to uncover patterns and insights and make data-driven decisions. AI is now a key player in cloud operations, according to cloud security provider Wiz, which Alphabet (GOOGL) recently said it would acquire for $32 (67%) of cloud environments are using OpenAI or Microsoft's Azure OpenAI SDKs, up from 53% last year, Wiz said in its study, "The State of AI in the Cloud 2025." Microsoft holds roughly 49% of OpenAi. 2025 stock market forecasts Veteran trader who correctly picked Palantir as top stock in '24 reveals best stock for '255 quantum computing stocks investors are targeting in 2025Goldman Sachs picks top sectors to own in 2025Every major Wall Street analyst's S&P 500 forecast for 2025 Microsoft will launch its first cloud region in Malaysia with three data centers by midyear, nearly a year after it unveiled a $2.2 billion investment in the country, Reuters reported. The Malaysia West cloud data centers will be located around Kuala Lumpur and will start operations in Q2, Laurence Si, managing director of Microsoft Malaysia, said at a news conference. Microsoft is set to report its Q3 results in April. The Redmond, Wash., company topped Wall Street's forecasts in January, but its shares fell after growth in Azure cloud computing services fell short of expectations. And its quarterly revenue forecast disappointed investors. "Azure is the infrastructure layer for AI," Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO, said during the earnings call. "We continue to expand our data center capacity in line with both near-term and long-term demand signals." "We have more than doubled our overall data center capacity in the last three years, and we have added more capacity last year than any other year in our history," he added. Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives said in a March 19 research note that Microsoft shares have been pressured as worries about AI-driven growth and competition created a perceived overhang on the name. To the contrary, the analyst said, Wedbush's recent checks with customers and partners in the Microsoft ecosystem showed an acceleration of deal flow this quarter. That gives the investment firm incremental confidence in the Azure growth story over the coming quarters. Microsoft shares are down 8% year-to-date and nearly 9% from a year ago. "Over the last month in our numerous conversations with Microsoft customers, partners, and field checks, it has become crystal clear to us that the monetization opportunities around deploying AI in the cloud is a transformational opportunity across the industry with Redmond remaining in the driver's seat," Ives said. Related: Analyst overhauls Microsoft stock price target amid potential AI pivot ["This] is the next step on the AI strategic vision for Microsoft and we would not be surprised to see an accelerated M&A strategy to help drive this next software AI stack layer," Ives said. AI annual recurring revenue continues to track ahead of expectations, and Ives said Microsoft's selloff is a stark contrast to what it is seeing taking place in the field. "We estimate for every $100 of cloud Azure spend with MSFT the last few years, there is an incremental $40 of AI spend for Nadella & Co. looking ahead," he added. Ives affirmed an outperform rating and $550 price target on the shares, saying Microsoft is a table-pounder name to own at current valuations and one of the best ways to play the AI revolution theme. Scotiabank analysts initiated coverage of Microsoft with an outperform rating and $470 price target, TheFly reported. The investment firm cited the company's "position as a leading horseman of the AI revolution." The analyst said that would drive sustainable fundamental growth and account for nearly 60% of incremental revenue in fiscal 2027. Scotia said that it expected 2025 to be "a paradigm-shifting year during which customer investments accelerate in AI on Azure and Microsoft 365 Copilot." Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Microsoft to Launch First Malaysia Cloud Region with $2.2B Investment
March 20 - Microsoft (MSFT, Financial) will launch its inaugural cloud region in Malaysia by mid?2025, featuring three data centers in Greater Kuala Lumpur, according to a Thursday news release. This new Malaysia West region follows nearly a year after the tech giant unveiled a US$2.2 billion, four?year investment plan in the country. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 1 Warning Sign with MSFT. A study commissioned from research firm IDC, titled "Microsoft Cloud Dividend Snapshot," forecasts that between now and 2028, Microsoft, its partners and cloud customers will generate US$10.9 billion in new revenues, fueling local economic growth and creating 37,575 jobs, including 5,700 skilled IT roles. The cloud region will meet local data residency mandates, ensuring secure data management. Last year, CEO Satya Nadella outlined plans to boost cloud and AI infrastructure across Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Laurence Si, managing director of Microsoft Malaysia, confirmed that export control issues remain at status quo, keeping the project on track. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Ammon
20-03-2025
- Business
- Ammon
Microsoft Malaysia to launch three data centres in Q2 2025
Ammon News - Microsoft will launch its first cloud region in Malaysia with three data centres by mid-year, the tech company said on Thursday, nearly a year after it announced a $2.2 billion investment in the Southeast Asian country. The data centres, known as the Malaysia West cloud, will be located in the greater Kuala Lumpur area and will start operations in the second quarter, Laurence Si, managing director of Microsoft Malaysia, said at a press conference. The Technology Roundup newsletter brings the latest news and trends straight to your inbox. Sign up here. Microsoft did not reveal the capacity of the data centres. Asked if Microsoft has faced any issues in exporting chips to Malaysia due to U.S. export controls on semiconductor chips, Si said the company was monitoring the situation. "At this point, everything is status quo for us. We do have a good relationship with all the various stakeholders. Everything that we intend to invest and go live with in our region, that continues to stay on track," he said. In May last year, Microsoft announced an investment of $2.2 billion over the next four years to expand its cloud and artificial intelligence services in Malaysia. Si said Microsoft estimated its commitments in Malaysia over the next four years would generate $10.9 billion in revenues and create more than 37,000 jobs. "Local businesses and organisations will be able to innovate faster and more securely, driving the country's progress towards becoming the hub for cloud and AI growth in Southeast Asia", he said. Reuters
