Microsoft stops 30-year-old practice and drops Apple, IBM, Meta, Nvidia from this its list of ...
has opted not to name its rivals in its latest annual report, in a significant shift from a nearly 30-year tradition, a report has pointed out. The 101-page document, released this week, contains no direct references to competitors like Apple, Google and IBM, nor newer private challengers such as Anthropic or Databricks. This marks a notable departure for the 50-year-old technology giant, which has listed its competitors in annual reports since at least 1994. Last year's report, for instance, explicitly designated over 25 companies as rivals.
What is the 'Big change' that Microsoft has brought in its annual report
Instead of specific names, Microsoft's latest report broadly states that it 'faces competition in a wide variety of markets,' including productivity software, PC operating systems and cloud infrastructure. A Microsoft spokesperson informed CNBC that this updated format aims to address larger categories.
'The new format reflects the fast-moving nature of the markets in which the company operates', CNBC cited a company spokesperson as saying.
Previously, these specific disclosures offered insights into how companies positioned themselves against the software titan. In a notable shift just last year, Microsoft even began referring to key partner OpenAI as a competitor after the AI startup launched a web search feature.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Moose Approaches Girl At Bus Stop In Chittagong - Watch What Happens
Happy in Shape
Undo
Despite this change in official documentation, Microsoft executives continue to track and comment on rival developments. CEO
Satya Nadella
referenced Amazon during Microsoft's earnings call. Similarly, Scott Guthrie, executive vice president of Microsoft's cloud and AI group, referred to Nvidia's powerful GB200 NVL72 systems.
Tech giants that name and do not specifiy their competitors
The this practice of not naming isn't universally followed. For example, according to CNBC, Microsoft's omission breaks from a common industry practice still observed by peers like Apple, Meta and Nvidia, all of whom continue to name companies they compete against.
Meanwhile, Amazon hasn't identified competitors in its annual reports since 1999, Tesla stopped in 2020, and Alphabet (Google's parent) ceased after 2022.
The new approach to competitive disclosure comes as Microsoft's shares climbed, pushing the company's market capitalisation past the $4 trillion mark.
AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
AI won't kill IT jobs: Experts
Inspite of the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the IT sector, career opportunities for young professionals will continue to be available, said experts at the students induction programme held at Avanthi College, Cherukupally in Vizianagaram on Monday. Avanthi Group of Colleges Director A. Chandra Sekhar and Mouri Tech Lead Expert (AI-Driven Development) Vasu Singampalli advised students to upskill in key areas such as— Python, Java, Machine Learning, Cloud Computing and AI to secure a bright future. Mr. Chandra Sekhar said that digital penetration and changes in technology in all sectors would create new job opportunities for students. Mr. Vasu asked students to focus and strengthen their technical skills in their chosen engineering branches to meet industry expectations during campus placement drives. JNTU-GV-Vizianagaram professor Bindu Madhuri said, 'The University and its affiliated engineering colleges have been focusing on developing infrastructure and establishing well-equipped laboratories to enable students to stay abreast with global trends in IT and other sectors. Brahmakumari's trainer Madhuri advised students to manage stress effectively, warning that tension and anxiety would affect their academic performance and confidence. College Principal B. Murali Krishna along with other faculty members were present.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Google agrees to curb power use for AI data centers to ease strain on US grid
Synopsis Utilities in the country have been inundated with requests for electricity for Big Tech's AI data centers, with demand eclipsing total available power supplies in some areas. Google's agreements with Indiana Michigan Power and Tennessee Power Authority would involve scaling back power use at the technology giant's data centers.
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Vinod Khosla's BIG warning: AI will take over 80% of jobs. Here's what the Silicon Valley investor advises students
Billionaire venture capitalist Vinod Khosla has issued a big warning, calling the rise of artificial intelligence 'one of the biggest transitions in human history', predicting that it will replace the majority of today's jobs within the next five years. Speaking on Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath's WTF podcast, the Silicon Valley veteran discussed the future of the job market, including the relevance of college degrees and the AI takeover within the next few years. 'Most of the jobs you see today will be automated,' Khosla said. 'This is going to be one of the biggest transitions humanity has ever seen.' He said that within five years, AI will perform the bulk of tasks across nearly every industry, from law and finance to medicine and customer support. He claimed that AI is also capable of doing very specialised tasks, such as surgery, better than humans, but the only roadblock to AI's takeover in that field is the regulatory barrier. Khosla urged young professionals and students to rethink their approach to careers and not take AI for granted. In a few years, machines will be capable of outperforming humans, even in narrow and specialised tasks. Hence, to have an edge in the job market, he advised keeping learning different areas instead of specialising in just one area. 'You have to optimise your career for flexibility, not a single profession.' According to Khosla, traditional roles are fading fast, and survival in the AI era will depend on one's creativity, critical thinking, and the ability to connect dots across disciplines, as these are some soft traits machines still struggle to replicate. In such a world, Khosla believes that only generalists will have an edge. When Kamath asked him whether students should specialise or broaden out, he said, 'Don't be a specialist, be a generalist.'
