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In January 2024, for the first time in its nearly 50 years, Microsoft became worth $3 trillion. But the journey to the top, from competition during the mobile era to capturing AI’s moment didn’t come without its lessons. A deep dive: www.wired.com/story/at-age...

Jaime Teevan joined Microsoft before it was cool again. Once she had completed her doctorate in artificial intelligence at MIT, Teevan had many career options, but was drawn to Microsoft’s respected, somewhat ivory-tower-ish research division. 🔗 www.wired.com/story/at-age...

A method of artificial intelligence called deep learning was proving to be a powerful enhancement to software products. Google, Facebook, and others went on a tear to hire machine-learning researchers. Not so much Microsoft. 🔗 www.wired.com/story/at-age...

In 2014, Microsoft surprised people by promoting the ultimate company man, Satya Nadella, to CEO. Three years later, Teevan became Nadella’s third technical adviser—and the first to have a background in AI.

Then she became chief scientist, and her task was to imbue the company’s products with the AI of the time. In 2019, Nadella made the bold decision to spend $1 billion to partner with OpenAI.