Before tools, before frameworks, before hype, offensive security has always been about one thing: Thinking like an attacker. That foundation now defines the offensive AI security skills practitioners will need as AI reshapes the attack surface. AI systems introduce new behaviors and new failure modes, but the core mindset remains the same: understand how a
To prepare the United Arab Emirates’ next generation for an AI-driven workforce, today we’re providing an update on our ambitious commitment to skill one million people across the UAE with an expansion of our global skilling initiative, Microsoft Elevate.
With Microsoft Elevate UAE we are making significant progress toward our goal with programs that will equip more than 250,000 students, staff, and faculty and more than 55,000 government employees with in-demand AI skills. Through sustained programs and new partnerships, Microsoft Elevate is providing advanced AI tools, in-demand credentials and comprehensive training to the region as we continue to work together to provide growth and opportunity for all.
As we shared earlier this week, Microsoft will invest USD 15.2 billion in the UAE before the end of this decade in a sustained commitment that brings together technology, talent, and trust to help the nation seize the opportunities of the AI era.
Together we will continue to ensure the region is uniquely positioned to harness this pivotal moment and remain at the forefront of AI use and innovation.
Advancing AI skills for the UAE’s next generation
As an update to our broader commitment to drive AI literacy and readiness across the UAE, Microsoft is announcing new partnerships with leading educational institutions and nonprofits to equip educators and students with essential AI skills and valuable credentials.
In close collaboration with the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications over the next year, we will provide training for more than 30,000 educators and 70,000 students across the UAE to ensure technology adoption is broad-based and that students are equipped to become leaders in AI for the future. Moreover, our technical graduate skilling program will upskill Emirati graduates, empowering them with the expertise needed to develop and train future AI models.
Our work with GEMS, the largest private school provider in the UAE, is embedding AI skills into all its schools and expanding training programs for 10,000 teachers and 150,000 students. This includes custom-built AI agents, Copilot workshops, and AI fluency programs for teachers, administrators, and students. Because preparing the future workforce starts with skilling educators, we are also focused on AI teacher readiness, with Copilot and Learning Accelerator access for almost 10,000 teachers and students in private schools across the UAE.
Through partnerships with nonprofits like INJAZ UAE, we are delivering AI Fundamentals courses to the UAE. The Skills Spot platform hosts signature courses for students, educators, and developers, credentialing over 58,000 learners in foundational AI skills, digital safety, and practical applications.
And in higher education, Microsoft has partnered with leading UAE institutions to deliver impactful skilling programs that empower both students and educators. Through collaborations such as the partnership with MBZUAI, which was awarded a Microsoft Economic AI Institute research fellowship, Microsoft is advancing AI literacy and research in the region. Microsoft has also established agreements focused on training with the Higher Colleges of Technology and UAE University. These programs are designed to equip participants with cutting-edge knowledge in artificial intelligence and digital skills, fostering innovation and enhancing the competitiveness of the UAE’s academic community. By investing in these trainings, Microsoft is helping to build a robust talent pipeline that supports the nation’s vision for a knowledge-based economy and positions graduates and educators to thrive.
Credentialing 55,000 UAE government employees and empowering future leaders
Last year, Microsoft partnered with UAE government entities to launch an initiative to upskill 120,000 government employees across the Federal Government, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah.
Today, we are announcing the next phase in our goal to equip public sector teams with AI skills that will help transform services, drive innovation, and prepare the workforce for the future
In partnership with G42, we have developed three specialized courses for government employees, delivered through the JAHIZ platform to ensure federal workers have a front-row seat in advancing their skills. This ambitious upskilling initiative for UAE federal government workers is designed to provide both foundational knowledge and real-world applications of AI for the public sector, with the goal of credentialing 55,000 federal employees over the next year. This investment in human capital will help ensure the UAE’s government is equipped to lead in digital transformation and meet the challenges of tomorrow with confidence.
We also know that preparing leaders for the future means going beyond technical skills. That’s why we continue to offer high-impact, in-person leadership development programs for government executives, CEOs, and senior decision-makers. Developed last year in collaboration with INSEAD, these tracks focus on strategic thinking, digital transformation, and the responsible adoption of AI. By building leadership capacity and fostering innovation, we are helping government entities across the UAE embrace change and realize the full potential of AI for the benefit of all. To date, we have partnered with INSEAD and learning partners locally to train 1,200 senior leaders across the UAE government and are proud to continue this effort to help strengthen the UAE’s position as a global leader in responsible AI governance.
Microsoft Elevate: A promise to the UAE
As AI and digital transformation reshape the world, closing the digital divide and expanding opportunities for all require collaboration across government, education, civil society, and industry. That’s why skilling is at the core of our commitment.
The UAE stands out as a leader in AI adoption, according to Microsoft’s AI Diffusion Technical Report. Yet, a significant skills gap remains, with more than 40% of working-age adults not yet using AI in the region. Initiatives like those we announced today in partnership with the Ministry of Education and others will continue to help address these gaps—and we are not done.
At Microsoft, we look forward to continuing our three decades of partnership across the region and bringing our capacity-building programs to the UAE through Microsoft Elevate. Our work together with local partners is not just a program; it is a promise to support the nation’s vision, empower its people, and help create universal opportunity.
At Microsoft, we are driven by the belief that technology has the power to create opportunity and growth for everyone. This conviction inspired the creation of TechSpark, a nationwide program designed to expand economic opportunity in local communities, bridge digital gaps, and ensure everyone can participate in the digital future.
As AI continues to accelerate innovation nationwide, today we welcome the 2026 TechSpark Fellows whose visionary organizations are at the forefront of harnessing AI and cloud technology to drive transformative impact and empower their communities throughout the United States. In addition to honoring these incredible individuals and organizations, today we also announce the expansion of the TechSpark Fellows program as we launch a new Alumni program, which together creates a national network of community innovators and leaders who share best practices, resources, and ideas to ensure their communities can leverage the power of technology to thrive.
Since launching the TechSpark Fellows program in 2023, Fellow organizations have joined forces with Microsoft to bridge digital divides and spark innovation. Collectively, these Fellow organizations have secured more than $249 million in follow-on funding, trained over 34,000 individuals in AI, data literacy, and emerging technologies, and built partnerships connecting public, private, and nonprofit organizations with new digital tools.
With the introduction of the new 2026 TechSpark Fellows cohort, we are proud to continue building on our tradition of driving meaningful impact across the nation. Today, a TechSpark Fellow or Alumni leader can be found in every single state, as well as in more than 11 Microsoft data center communities. This widespread presence ensures that our efforts to make a difference in local communities are closely connected with our ongoing investments in infrastructure technology. By maintaining this strong network of leaders, we can foster community impact and support the growth of technology initiatives hand in hand, ensuring that progress and opportunity reach even more people across the United States.
The TechSpark program has made a significant difference in communities from California to New Jersey, across Georgia to Tennessee, and many places in between. These efforts have resulted in the creation of more than 5,100 jobs, the training of over 72,000 individuals in artificial intelligence and digital skills, and the mobilization of more than $728 million in community funding to support local projects.
Welcoming the 2026 TechSpark Fellows
Each year, Microsoft TechSpark Fellows are appointed by nonprofit or community organizations that apply through a national call for participation. Each organization then receives a grant to support and scale their mission and can participate in a robust, seven-month learning and development experience designed to advance AI skilling, innovation, and adoption to support opportunity within their community.
TechSpark Fellows from these organizations are already shaping projects that range from empowering women to reenter the workforce through AI upskilling to building rural digital academies to advancing youth coding and data science programs. Below are just a few inspiring examples of this year’s TechSpark Fellows and the unique ways they are driving positive change in their communities:
The Illinois Science & Technology Coalition and Institute
The Illinois Science & Technology Coalition and Institute is strengthening the job pipeline in Illinois by connecting high school students with industry mentors for months-long, hands-on projects that reflect real workforce needs. Students work directly with professionals, including Microsoft mentors, on challenges tied to current industry priorities, gaining the skills, confidence, and experience needed to pursue careers in STEM fields. Through participation in the TechSpark Fellows program, the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition and Institute aims to expand opportunities for more schools and students across Illinois—deepening industry partnerships, strengthening hands-on learning, and preparing young people for future careers in STEM fields.
Climb Wyoming
Climb Wyoming transforms lives by helping low-income single mothers discover their full potential through integrated career training, mental health support, and meaningful employment with local employers. In Wyoming, single mothers and their children experience the highest rates of poverty in the United States, making Climb’s work both urgent and essential. The program provides immediate support and pathways to economic independence. On average, Climb graduates more than double their income two years after the program—a 121% increase in wages. As a TechSpark Fellow, Climb Wyoming looks to learn how to leverage AI and digital skilling to enhance career training for the women they serve.
Compudopt Georgia
Compudopt is closing the digital divide for families nationwide by providing free laptops and comprehensive tech education programs, from first graders to seniors. In 2025, Compudopt celebrated reaching one million people, offering digital literacy training that empowers entire households to thrive in a connected world. As part of the TechSpark Fellows program, Compudopt wants to learn how AI can further strengthen their mission, exploring new ways AI can enhance digital skilling, expand access, and help families unlock opportunities for work, learning, and daily life.
Building AI readiness for all
As we look to the future, we believe our responsibility is to continue to empower others and support their missions. The TechSpark Fellows program is just one way that we can leverage the power of technology and community to ensure that the promise of AI reaches every community across America. The progress made through TechSpark—helping leaders secure resources, equipping individuals with critical skills, and fostering innovation—demonstrates what’s possible when we work together.
The contrast in AI use across the United States reveals not just a disparity in adoption but a fundamental challenge in ensuring that AI brings people together rather than widening existing divides. Achieving an inclusive AI economy will require ongoing collaboration with local leaders, nonprofits, policymakers, and peers in the private sector.
TechSpark has shown that community and local leaders are the biggest assets in ensuring their home states, hometowns, and neighbors thrive. By listening deeply, partnering with purpose, and building strong connections with local changemakers, we can make certain that everyone has the tools, opportunities, and support to thrive in the AI era.
AI has introduced a transformative era in scientific discovery. In the hands of researchers, innovators, and startups, it is accelerating breakthroughs from advancing medical research to powering new manufacturing capabilities and energy transitions.
For Microsoft, the real promise of AI emerges when we bring our powerful tools together with problem solvers in local communities. For the past eight years, Microsoft has been sharing knowledge and collaborating with communities to unlock opportunity through Microsoft TechSpark, an economic development, skilling, and community-building program across the US. Since its inception, TechSpark has helped create more than 4,500 jobs and contributed more than $700 million in community funding to support local initiatives.
Today, we’re announcing a new milestone in our TechSpark program: a pioneering partnership with leading innovation centers—TitletownTech, in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the New Jersey (NJ) AI Hub, in partnership with Princeton University. Together, we’re launching a new model for scientific collaboration that combines the agility of a startup, the expertise of a university, and the technology of a global company.
Through this partnership, Microsoft will provide the Microsoft Discovery platform to TitletownTech and NJ AI Hub and access to the latest advancements in AI and high-performance computing that promise to accelerate scientific discovery. We believe this kind of alliance is essential to ensure that breakthroughs in science and solutions to global challenges are not confined to a few but shared broadly for the benefit of all.
A new model for scientific discovery
Researchers and innovators from these organizations will have an opportunity to access Microsoft Discovery, an advanced agentic AI platform designed to accelerate scientific breakthroughs. They will also benefit from the expertise of the Microsoft Discovery and Quantum team, under the leadership of Jason Zander. Currently available only in private preview, this opportunity enables researchers to leverage state-of-the-art AI and high-performance computing to collaborate with a team of specialized AI agents combined with a graph-based knowledge engine to drive scientific outcomes with speed, scale, and accuracy.
Through Microsoft Discovery, researchers can speed up scientific discovery by analyzing vast amounts of data, simulating experiments, and uncovering new materials and solutions more efficiently. The platform facilitates effective collaboration, bringing together teams of specialized AI agents and human experts for continuous, iterative investigation. This dynamic environment helps organizations refine their knowledge, learn from their results, and innovate in ways that were previously unimaginable.
What makes this partnership unique is its focus on real breakthroughs in chemistry, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and AI-driven innovation. Building on years of TechSpark collaboration, this initiative is not just another corporate research and development center or a one-off research grant. Instead, we are creating a shared undertaking, deeply rooted in engagement with local communities and aligned around the promise of AI. By blending the strengths of top research universities with the cutting-edge infrastructure of the NJ AI Hub and TitletownTech Labs and Microsoft’s role as an industry convener, we hope to set the stage for transformative progress.
Collaborating for real-world impact
While we are still in the early days of what’s possible, we are dedicated to discovering what can be achieved when our institutions work together to accelerate science and innovation.
This technology could be a game-changer for environmental challenges like plastic waste. For example, Microsoft Discovery can enablemodeling of complex chemical reactions, unlocking new pathways for catalyst design in recycling systems. This would enable more efficient, selective, and controlled recycling processes, fewer costly lab experiments, and faster innovation. In the future, advances like these could empower researchers to turn plastic waste into valuable resources.
In Microsoft’s own labs, the integration of high-performance computing and AI into Microsoft Discovery is already unlocking new scenarios. For instance, our researchers used Discovery’s advanced AI systems and HPC capabilities to discover a novel sustainable coolant prototype for datacenter immersion cooling—moving from digital discovery to synthesis in just four months.
Looking ahead
We are putting the Microsoft Discovery platform into the hands of innovators, like those at TitletownTech and the NJ AI Hub, to fuel innovation and demonstrate real-world impact.
In the coming weeks, we will work to enable access to Microsoft Discovery for these labs under the private preview, and as we roll out the Discovery platform availability to the public, we will continue to work with these partners and other researchers and universities to ensure we expand opportunity for scientific discovery through AI.
It’s only with a strong ecosystem that we’ll be able to realize the full potential of Microsoft Discovery, and it’s why we’re working with these partners and others to bring first-party advancements together with leading industry tools and domain expertise.
With this new chapter for our TechSpark partners, we reaffirm our commitment to championing innovation and discovery alongside the brilliant local innovators across Wisconsin and New Jersey. Together, we look forward to shaping the future of science for everyone.
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