3M, Microsoft Partner on AI Adoption
By Dean Seal
3M and Microsoft are teaming up to help each other make artificial intelligence a bigger component of their businesses.
The companies said Wednesday that Microsoft will deploy 3M's expanded beam optical technology in its Azure data centers, while 3M will use Microsoft AI to advance its enterprise transformation across key business areas.
The moves will combine Microsoft's digital and hyperscale infrastructure with 3M's materials science and precision manufacturing to accelerate AI adoption, the two companies said.
3M's expanded beam optical interface, which can be used in lieu of direct contact required by traditional connectors, will make fiber connections faster to install and earlier to maintain, they said.
Microsoft's AI and digital capabilities meanwhile can help 3M overhaul certain divisions, including customer service, finance, sales and marketing, to simplify processes, improve decision-making and increase employee productivity, the companies said.
3M was rising 1.9% to $159.60 in premarket trading. Microsoft was up 1% to $388.69.
Write to Dean Seal at dean.seal@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
July 15, 2026 09:37 ET (13:37 GMT)
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