How (and why) Microsoft's CEO is carrying his predecessors' legacies

Contrary to what some critics may believe, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's AI and cloud focus is not a new direction for the company.

Nadella is often criticized for focusing Microsoft too heavily on AI and the cloud. But a closer look at Microsoft's history reveals that he's merely carrying the baton passed to him from his predecessors.

Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates strived to set the company on a course toward AI and the cloud. His successor, Steve Ballmer, carried those efforts further by stressing Microsoft's AI and cloud commitments. He even referenced Microsoft's vision of a pocketable folding device that would benefit from the cloud.

Let's take a closer look.

Nadella honors predecessors

During a 2017 GeekWire interview, Nadella shared the investments at the forefront of Microsoft's efforts didn't begin with his tenure:

I'm very excited about what we're doing in mixed reality ... AI, ... even ... quantum. [All] these efforts didn't get started three and a half years ago. It's really Bill who started MSR. It's Steve who started our cloud push. These ... folks ... saw it long before it was conventional wisdom ... these are the things that can be successful.

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