Microsoft, incubators join hands to nourish startups

Microsoft Corp is working closely with the Chinese government on 21 existing incubation centers across the country to help local startups better embrace artificial intelligence, according to a senior Microsoft executive.

These hubs, formed in tandem with local authorities and business partners, have already helped nurture over 600 startups whose combined valuation has topped 15 billion yuan ($2.24 billion), said Ralph Haupter, president of Microsoft Asia.

As a technology, AI is said to help double enterprise productivity by 2021, he said.