Microsoft will invest $25 billion in Australian data centre, cybersecurity and AI skills infrastructure by 2029, in what the company is calling its largest-ever commitment to the country, as US tech giants race to lock in compute capacity across the Indo-Pacific region. Announced on Thursday in Sydney by Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the investment aims to strengthen national cyber defences, boost economic productivity, and deliver workforce-ready AI skills to three million Australians by 2028. Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Business Council Australia chief executive Bran Black called the commitment a “global game-changer,” noting the scale of the investment will support long-term economic growth and productivity.…