Having existed for a little more than twelve months, Microsoft AI represents one of the technology behemoth's latest ventures. This research division is in charge of the company's user-facing artificial intelligence offerings, such as Microsoft Copilot, the generative AI conversational agent powered by OpenAI's extensive language frameworks.
TL;DR
- Microsoft AI, a year-old division, develops user-facing AI like Microsoft Copilot.
- Microsoft AI aims for all staff to be AI-native by fiscal year-end, with positive employee reactions.
- Microsoft AI fosters psychological safety for innovation and encourages employees to embrace AI.
- Microsoft AI partners with AFL-CIO to inform unionized employees about AI integration.
Liz Danzico, the vice-president of design at Microsoft AI, acknowledged at the Coins2Day Brainstorm Design conference held in Macau on Tuesday that not everyone on the lab's staff is inherently skilled in AI, even though the lab concentrates on AI.
“We created a goal for our organization—that every person in the studio will become AI-native by the end of the fiscal year,” Danzico said, adding that she had helped put together an in-house AI course for the firm’s 8,000 to 9,000 employees.
Danzico stated that the reaction has been “tremendously positive.” AI has infiltrated Microsoft AI's offerings and internal discussions, and its employees have been “feeling more satisfied and energized about the possibilities with AI.”
Danzico stated that they've also experienced reduced apprehension and worry regarding it, following “experimenting with multiple [AI] tools.”
The team, under the direction of CEO Mustafa Suleyman, is growing, and the designer also highlighted the significance of fostering an environment where employees feel encouraged to confront ambiguity and welcome innovation.
“For diverse ideas to make it out, people have to feel safe to voice them, so [it is key to] make sure that that psychological safety is there,” she added.
Social impact
In addition to leading the integration of AI across services such as Bing and Microsoft Edge, Microsoft AI also aims to make AI's societal influence more accessible.
In December 2023, Microsoft entered into an agreement with The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), which is the foremost federation of labor unions in the U.S. This arrangement permits Microsoft to inform unionized employees about the introduction of AI and to organize meetings where employees can contribute to discussions on how their employers integrate AI into the workplace.
“That they [workers] are empowered to have that information—the ideas about what’s happening and unfurling in the market—is so important, so that when they go back to the bargaining table, their everyday jobs, and the ways that they touch our everyday lives, they’re going to be informed,” said Danzico.
In essence, Microsoft AI's efforts are focused on developing artificial intelligence for individuals and the broader benefit of humanity, Danzico clarified. “What unites us all is our commitment to the user, whether the user is at their office, at their desk, or working somewhere out in the wild.”
