Amazon Raises Australia Data Center Investment to $20B

Amazon has raised its planned investment in Australian data center infrastructure from $13 billion to $20 billion (A$20bn) for the period 2025 to 2029, aiming to meet growing demand for AI and cloud services. The announcement, made in Seattle with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese present, includes partnerships with major Australian firms such as the big four banks, Telstra, Optus, Atlassian, and Canva. The expansion will also add new solar farm projects in Victoria and Queensland to supply energy for the increased AI infrastructure. Amazon has launched initiatives like AWS AI Spring Australia and the AWS Generative AI Accelerator to foster AI adoption among startups and enterprises. Following the news, Amazon's share price rose 3.2% and AI-linked cryptocurrencies saw notable gains, reflecting optimism in the tech sector. The investment aligns with government projections that AI and automation could contribute up to A$600 billion to the country's GDP annually by 2030.