Former Microsoft VP says Microsoft missed the AI wave like the internet and mobile, as Copilot scales back in Windows 11
windowslatest.com May 18, 2026

Former Microsoft VP says Microsoft missed the AI wave like the internet and mobile, as Copilot scales back in Windows 11

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

A former Microsoft executive, Mat Velloso, stated that the company has missed the AI wave, similar to its missed opportunities with the internet and mobile. Velloso, who spent 12 years at Microsoft, criticized the company's AI strategy, citing low adoption rates of its Copilot feature, with less than 3% of paying users actively using it. Despite heavy investment in AI, including Neural Processing Units, Microsoft has failed to capture significant market share, with its Bing search engine failing to gain on Google. The company's AI push has also been hindered by rising costs and reliability issues with GitHub. Microsoft's recent shift in prioritizing user feedback may be a response to these struggles, with the company assembling OEMs and chipset vendors to address customer concerns. The former executive's comments have sparked tension within the company, with a Microsoft spokesperson defending the company's leadership and strategy.

💡 Why It Matters

  • · Microsoft's struggles with AI adoption threaten to undermine its massive investment in the technology, potentially jeopardizing its position in the market.
  • · The company's failure to capture significant market share with its AI-powered search engine and features raises questions about its ability to drive innovation and growth.