Microsoft

In recent years, Microsoft has begun developing AI-powered products. The company has invested $13 billion in OpenAI, acquiring a 49% stake. AI technology from Microsoft and OpenAI has been integrated into a range of Microsoft products. In 2023, Microsoft launched its AI assistant, Copilot, on Edge, Microsoft 365 products, and Windows 10 and 11. In November 2023, the company also introduced its first AI chip, the Azure Maia 100.

Microsoft's executive leadership team is made up of Satya Nadella (CEO), the Presidentpresident and Vicevice Chairchair, the Chiefchief Marketingmarketing Officerofficer, the Chiefchief Humanhuman Resourcesresources Officerofficer, the Chiefchief Financialfinancial Officerofficer, and the Executiveexecutive Vicevice Presidentpresident for Businessbusiness Developmentdevelopment, Strategystrategy, and Venturesventures. The company's board of directors is mostly made up of company outsiders. Board members are elected every year at the annual shareholders' meeting. After stepping down as CEO, in 2000, Bill GatesBill Gates served on the board of Microsoft until March 2020.

Microsoft has made many acquisitions over the years, including the acquisition of LinkedIn for $26.2 billion in December 2016 and the acquisition of Skype for $8.5 billion in May 2011. Microsoft acquired the company Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion in January 2022. Other acquisitions by the company include GitHub in 2018 and NokiaNokia Devices and Services in 2014.

Childhood friends Bill Gates and Paul AllenPaul Allen founded Microsoft on April 4, 1975. Allen quit his job as a programmer in Boston, and Gates left Harvard University, where he was a student, to start Microsoft. Originally called Micro-Soft, the company was started to produce software for the Altair 8800, an early personal computer developed by MITS, and was based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the same city as MITS.

By the end of 1978, Microsoft sales grew to over $1 million. On January 1, 1979, Microsoft moved its headquarters to Bellevue, Washington, the Seattle suburb where Gates and Allen grew up. On June 25, 1981, Microsoft was incorporated. The company went on to license its MS-DOSMS-DOS operating system to IBM for its first personal computer, introduced on August 12, 1981. In 1983, Allen left Microsoft. In 1985, Microsoft released Windows, its new operating system with a graphical user interface that included drop-down menus, scroll bars, and other features. In 1986, the company moved to its corporate campus in Redmond, Washington, and went public at $21 a share, raising $61 million. A year after going public, Gates became the world's youngest billionaire at 31thirty-one years old. By the late 1980s, Microsoft had grown to become the world’s largest personal computer software company, based on sales.

In 2017, Microsoft launched Xbox One X, announced major renovations to its Redmond campus, broke ground on a new silicon valley campus, and opened a new campus in Dublin, Ireland.

In 2017, Microsoft launched Xbox One X, announced major renovations to its Redmond campus, broke ground on a new Silicon Valley campus, and opened a new campus in Dublin, Ireland.

Microsoft Corporation (MS) is an American multinational technology company with headquarters in Redmond, Washington. ItMicrosoft develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services. MicrosoftThe company has store locations and corporate campuses worldwide. Some of Microsoft's most recognized products include XBox, Office Suite, Internet Explorer, and the Windows operating systems.

In recent years, Microsoft has become increasingly focused on AIbegun anddeveloping AI-powered products,. includingThe investingcompany has invested $13 billion in OpenAI, acquiring a 49% stake. AI technology from Microsoft and OpenAI has been integrated into a range of Microsoft products. In 2023, Microsoft launched its AI assistant Copilot, on Edge, Microsoft 365 products, and Windows 10 and 11. Introducing Copilot on its two latest operating systems means it could reach up to 1.4 billion users. In November 2023, the company also introduced its first AI chip, the Azure Maia 100.

Microsoft was founded on April 4, 1975, by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Originally, it was a small computer software company, working with the company Altair. In 1980, Microsoft partnered with IBM and began creating operating systems for the company. Stocks for Microsoft first went public in 1986. Though Microsoft had been based in Bellevue, Washington, since 1979, it was in 1989 that it opened its Redmond headquarters. In 1990, the company introduced the Windows operating system, Windows 3.0, following the release of the Microsoft Office suite in 1989.

In 2000, Steve Ballmer took over as CEO of the company. At this time, Microsoft began creating mobile devices and gaming consoles, releasing the first Xbox in 2001. Windows Vista and the 2007 Windows Office system were offered to consumers beginning in 2007. The company launched the Windows server in 2003. Microsoft began incorporating cloud technology into its software products in 2008, and it launched the Bing search engine that same year. The company produced the first Windows phone in 2010. Satya Nadella became the new CEO of Microsoft in 2014, and that same year, the company launched Windows for iPad and acquired Nokia Devices and Services. It first launched its line of Surface tablet computers in 2015.

Childhood friends Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft on April 4, 1975. Allen quit his job as a programmer in Boston and Gates left Harvard University, where he was a student, to start Microsoft. Originally called Micro-Soft, the company was started to produce software for the Altair 8800, an early personal computer developed by MITS, and was based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the same city as MITS.

By the end of 1978, Microsoft sales grew to over $1 million. On January 1, 1979, Microsoft moved its headquarters to Bellevue, Washington, the Seattle suburb where Gates and Allen grew up. On June 25, 1981, Microsoft incorporated. The company went on to license its MS-DOS operating system to IBM for its first personal computer introduced on August 12, 1981. In 1983, Allen left Microsoft. In 1985, Microsoft released Windows, its new operating system with a graphical user interface that included drop-down menus, scroll bars and other features. In 1986, the company moved to its corporate campus in Redmond, Washington, and went public at $21 a share, raising $61 million. A year after going public, Gates became the world's youngest billionaire at 31 years old. By the late 1980s, Microsoft had grown to become the world’s largest personal computer software company, based on sales.

Microsoft introduced the first version of its Office suite of productivity applications in 1989 and Windows 3.0 in 1990. In 1995, Microsoft debuted Windows 95, selling 7 million copies of the new operating system in the first five weeks after launch. The same year, Microsoft introduced its web browser, Internet Explorer. In 1998, the U.S. Department of Justice charged Microsoft with violating antitrust laws by using its dominance to drive competitors out of business. The company reached a settlement with the government in 2001, imposing restrictions on its corporate practices.

On January 13, 2000, Steve Ballmer took over as CEO of the company. At this time, Microsoft began creating mobile devices and gaming consoles, releasing the first Xbox in 2001. Windows Vista and the 2007 Windows Office system were offered to consumers beginning in 2007. Microsoft began incorporating cloud technology into its software products in 2008, and it launched the Bing search engine that same year. The company produced the first Windows phone in 2010. Satya Nadella became the new CEO of Microsoft in 2014, and that same year, the company launched Windows for iPad and acquired Nokia Devices and Services. It first launched its line of Surface tablet computers in 2015.

In 2017, Microsoft launched Xbox One X, announced major renovations to its Redmond campus, broke ground on a new silicon valley campus, and opened a new campus in Dublin, Ireland.