ナデラCEO、AI時代の主力事業陳腐化に強い危機感

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella admitted at a recent internal town hall that the company's foundational businesses may not survive the current AI platform shift. “Some of the biggest businesses we’ve built might not be as relevant going forward,” Nadella stated, adding that “all the categories that we may have even loved for 40 years may not matter.” He directly addressed the threat of AI models that can already generate spreadsheets, documents, and presentations, challenging the dominance of Microsoft's lucrative Office suite.

To emphasize the existential risk, Nadella said he is “haunted” by the fall of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), once a leader in minicomputers that disappeared after failing to adapt to new technology. By drawing this parallel, he framed the transition to AI not as an opportunity for growth but as a fundamental test of survival. His message underscores a deep-seated fear at the highest levels of Microsoft that the company could become irrelevant if it fails to lead this new wave.

Nadella's candid remarks were a response to an employee who described the company culture as “markedly different, colder, more rigid, and lacking in empathy.” Reports suggest employee morale is at an all-time low due to continuous layoffs and strategic pivots. While Nadella acknowledged that leadership “can do better,” he linked the difficult internal environment to the necessary “renewal” and “hard work” required to navigate the industry's changes.

This strategic push is driven by a determination not to repeat past failures, such as missing the mobile shift, which co-founder Bill Gates called his “greatest mistake ever.” Nadella emphasized that Microsoft must focus on innovation over preservation, stating, “You would rather win the new than just protect the past.” He reminded employees that a company's existence is earned daily by providing value, signaling that painful changes are essential to secure Microsoft’s future in the age of AI.