As part of its AI Plan announced in May 2018, Microsoft plans to open three Microsoft Experiences Labs and three new Microsoft AI Schools in the regions by the end of the year.
Create digital innovation hubs
The Microsoft Experiences Labs aim to bring together businesses, local government and associations.
The first Microsoft Experiences Lab opened on April 25 in Nantes and was designed with local partners to drive growth in sectors of excellence such as agriculture and smart cities.
Solutions presented include:
- The Peek solution from start-up Copeeks, a unit equipped with a camera and numerous sensors (temperature, humidity, CO2 level, etc.) to enable livestock farmers and crop farmers to remotely monitor their livestock or manage their crops.
- Fluicity, an app for citizen engagement, facilitating collective decision-making on topics of general interest.
Support the development of digital skills, particularly in AI
The first Microsoft AI School will open in autumn 2019 in Nantes at Crédit Agricole Atlantique Vendée, in partnership with Simplon, CGI, Jouve, Crédit Agricole Atlantique Vendée and Crédit Agricole Technologies et Services.
The trainees, jobseekers, early school leavers and people retraining for a new job will receive intensive AI training and will then intern at a Microsoft partner company for a total duration of 19 months.