{"id":8574,"date":"2023-11-22T15:31:34","date_gmt":"2023-11-22T15:31:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.markwilson.co.uk\/blog\/?p=8574"},"modified":"2023-11-22T17:17:43","modified_gmt":"2023-11-22T17:17:43","slug":"what-did-we-learn-at-ignite-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.markwilson.co.uk\/blog\/2023\/11\/what-did-we-learn-at-ignite-2023.htm","title":{"rendered":"What did we learn at Microsoft Ignite 2023?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Right now, there’s a whole load of journalists and influencers writing about what Microsoft announced at Ignite. I’m not a journalist, and Microsoft has long since stopped considering me as an influencer. Even so, I’m going to take a look at the key messages. Not the technology announcements – for those there’s the Microsoft Ignite 2023 Book of News<\/a> – but the real things IT Leaders need to take away from this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft’s investment in OpenAI<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It’s all about AI. I know, you’re tired of the hype, suffering from AI fatigue, but for Microsoft, it really is about AI. And if you were unconvinced just how important AI is to Microsoft’s strategy, their action to snap up key members of staff from an imploding OpenAI a week later should be all you need to see:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We remain committed to our partnership with OpenAI and have confidence in our product roadmap, our ability to continue to innovate with everything we announced at Microsoft Ignite, and in continuing to support our customers and partners. We look forward to getting to know Emmett\u2026<\/p>— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) November 20, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Tortoise Media<\/a>‘s Barney Macintyre (@barneymac<\/a>) summed it up brilliantly when he said that<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Satya Nadella, chief executive of Microsoft, has played a blinder. Altman\u2019s firing raised the risk that he would lose a key ally at a company into which Microsoft has invested $13 billion. After it became clear the board wouldn\u2019t accept his reinstatement, Nadella offered jobs to Altman, Brockman and other loyalist researchers thinking about leaving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The upshot: a new AI lab, filled with talent and wholly owned by Microsoft \u2013 without the bossy board. An $86 billion subsidiary for a $13 billion investment.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

But the soap opera continued and, by the middle of the week, Altman was back at OpenAI, apparently with the blessing of Microsoft!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are encouraged by the changes to the OpenAI board. We believe this is a first essential step on a path to more stable, well-informed, and effective governance. Sam, Greg, and I have talked and agreed they have a key role to play along with the OAI leadership team in ensuring\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/djO6Fuz6t9<\/a><\/p>— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) November 22, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>