Apple has announced plans to invest more than US$430bn (£310bn) and add 20,000 new jobs in innovative fields such as machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) across the USA over the next five years.
Over the past three years, Apple’s contributions in the USA have outpaced the company’s original five-year goal of US$350bn (£250bn) set in 2018. Apple is now raising its level of commitment by 20% up to 2026.
“At this moment of recovery and rebuilding, Apple is doubling down on our commitment to US innovation and manufacturing with a generational investment reaching communities across all 50 states,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.
“We’re creating jobs in cutting-edge fields – from 5G to silicon engineering to artificial intelligence – investing in the next generation of innovative new businesses, and in all our work, building toward a greener and more equitable future.”
As part of its investments and expansion, Apple plans to invest over US$1bn (£718m) in North Carolina and will begin construction on a new campus and engineering hub in the Research Triangle area. According to Apple, the investment will create at least 3,000 new jobs in machine learning, artificial intelligence, software engineering, and other cutting-edge fields.
Furthermore, the company plans to make a US$100m (£72m) Advanced Manufacturing Fund investment to open a state-of-the-art facility and distribution centre in Clayton, Indiana, which will be operated by XPO Logistics and use automation and robotics to accelerate delivery times and personalisation. The new facility is also expected to create around 500 jobs.
Malcolm Wilson, chief executive officer of XPO Logistics – Europe, said: “We’re thrilled to join Apple in creating hundreds of jobs in this next-generation distribution centre. Our team of experts will use the latest technology to quickly fulfil personalised versions of Apple’s iconic products for consumers.”
