Hitachi Ltd. and Microsoft Corp. have announced a multibillion-dollar partnership to harness the power of generative AI and drive social innovation. This three-year alliance will integrate Microsoft's cutting-edge cloud and AI technologies into Hitachi's Lumada solutions, aiming to deliver transformative outcomes for businesses and society.
The partnership will propel growth in the Lumada business, with a planned revenue of 2.65 trillion yen (18.9 billion USD) in FY2024, and improve productivity for Hitachi's 270,000 employees. Hitachi will embed Microsoft cloud, Azure Open AI Service, Dynamics 365, Copilot for Microsoft 365, and GitHub Copilot into its Lumada solutions, providing innovative solutions for industries such as energy, mobility, and manufacturing. This integration will enhance operational efficiency, decision-making, and productivity, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable future.
To further accelerate social innovation, Hitachi will train over 50,000 "GenAI Professionals" with advanced AI skills, incorporating Microsoft's training programs. The partnership will also focus on joint projects that address pressing business needs, including cloud services, security, and sustainability. Notably, the companies will collaborate on a data center project in Europe to reduce environmental impact.
Through this strategic alliance, Hitachi and Microsoft aim to revolutionize industries and society by harnessing the power of generative AI. By combining their expertise, they will develop innovative digital solutions that drive growth, improve productivity, and contribute to a more sustainable future. As the partnership unfolds, we can expect to see exciting developments and innovations that will shape the future of various industries and society as a whole.