Microsoft in the 21st Century
microsoft is the largest computer software company in the world. It is also a major supplier of cloud computing services, video games, computer and gaming hardware, and online search. Its corporate headquarters are located in Redmond, Washington, and it has operations around the globe.
The company was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, who were classmates at Harvard University. They worked together to create a compiler for the Altair 8800, a primitive early computer. By the late 1970s, Microsoft had grown into a profitable business, and in 1981, it incorporated as a company.
In the decades that followed, Microsoft continued to dominate the world of personal computers. Its Windows operating system set industry standards, and the Office productivity suite was a powerful force in the business market. Its Xbox video game consoles and Surface line of hybrid tablet computers were popular with consumers. The company also expanded into the cloud technology market, and its Azure platform is now one of the top providers in that space.
The company has suffered from some internal problems, such as the departure of longtime CEO Steve Ballmer in February 2014. But it has maintained its preeminent position in both the consumer and business markets. Its flagship products remain the Windows operating system and the Office suite of software applications, although it has also made significant inroads in the gaming market with its Xbox series of consoles. It has also expanded into mobile devices with its Windows phones and Surface tablets.
Its strategy in the 21st century has focused on maintaining its dominance in the business and productivity software markets while expanding into new areas. It has invested heavily in artificial intelligence, and its president has been outspoken about the need for responsible use of the technology. In the consumer market, it has augmented its offering of devices with Cortana, a digital assistant that can answer questions and perform tasks using voice commands, and with Edge, a Web browser that replaced Internet Explorer.
Microsoft’s News website, which comes preloaded on the company’s computer software and its Edge browser, features articles from a wide range of sources. But critics have pointed to a number of objectively false stories and overtly partisan articles that have been amplified by the site’s algorithms, which are powered by AI.
Microsoft has a process for evaluating and removing content from its products in the Windows Store that violates guidelines, including spam, advertising, profanity, or offensive content. To report a concern, users can open the product detail page for an app in the Microsoft Store and select the flag icon next to the review. Then they can select a reason for reporting the content and tap submit. This will send a message to Microsoft, and the company will evaluate whether or not it should remove the content. The company will notify the user if the content is removed from their device. Microsoft also allows developers to use the RequestRateAndReviewAppAsync API to solicit ratings and reviews from customers without them leaving their app.
