Amazon.com’s cloud computing platform has announced plans to invest $10 billion to build two data center complexes in Mississippi as demand for its services grows and firms increasingly adopt artificial intelligence.
About 73% of U.S. companies have already adopted AI in at least some areas of their businesses, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers. As the technology becomes more widespread and advanced, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud and Microsoft’s Azure are expected to manage most of the increased traffic on their cloud infrastructure.
AWS’s expansion plans in Mississippi come shortly after the company said it would invest 2.26 trillion yen ($15.2 billion) in Japan’s Tokyo and Osaka by 2027. Google has recently dropped $1 billion on plans to launch a new data center in Hertfordshire, England, about 12 miles north of central London.
The Amazon subsidiary will work with the Madison County Economic Development Authority to establish data center units in two industrial parks in Madison County. The investment is projected to create at least 1,000 new jobs in Mississippi, according to the company.
“We look forward to delivering new workforce development opportunities and educational programs that support the next generation of talent across the Magnolia State,” Roger Wehner, the director of economic development for AWS, said in a statement.
AWS has invested more than $108 billion in its infrastructure across the U.S., according to the company. That includes $2.3 billion put into Mississippi since 2010.
“This record-shattering $10 billion private sector investment will not only create 1,000 high-tech, high-paying jobs for Mississippians, but it will result in our state remaining at the forefront of innovation,” Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said in a statement.
