Microsoft is becoming M(ai)crosoft.

R&D and Investments in Cognitive Technologies.

Tech giants are active players at the cognitive technologies scene. Alphabet and Facebook proved themselves active acquirers and investors in cognitive tech. Supercomputers, robots and drones are among themes approached by Internet giants.

Microsoft, however, seems to be following a differed path: it integrates cognitive technologies into traditional products and makes them smarter.

Bill Gates coined the concept of ‘digital nervous system (DNS)… that … [provides] a well-integrated flow of information to the right part of the organization at the right time’. This intellectual system inherits some important features of its biological prototype, for instance, it ‘…blocks out the information that isn’t important …’ [1] The system acts as an agent, anticipating user’s intentions and making some decisions by its own.

Recent Microsoft’s efforts in cognitive technologies follow the path, once highlighted by the DNS concept.For instance, at the recent Build Conference, Microsoft highlighted ‘conversational’ interface, aiming to facilitate information overload, users face[2].

Cortana, a digital assistant, became more integrated into firm’s traditional products and got more freedom to act independently from a user. The assistant, for example, may find and send a document, as well as book a hotel on behalf of a user[3]. Bill Gates, retired from the Chairman role, pays attention to ‘Personal Agent’ project, indicating the importance of the DNS approach to the company’s future[4].

Through the internal research and development as well as acquisitions and investments, Microsoft makes its software smarter. At least five cognitive technologies were explored and integrated into Microsoft’s products, namely:

Machine Learning is a key element of Priorities and Notification platform as well as Adaptive Interface;

is a key element of Priorities and Notification platform as well as Adaptive Interface; Speech Recognition was pioneered since 90s, shipped as part of OS since Windows XP, then cloud-powered and currently available as a part of Cognitive Services (Project Oxford);

was pioneered since 90s, shipped as part of OS since Windows XP, then cloud-powered and currently available as a part of Cognitive Services (Project Oxford); Natural Language Processing (NLP) efforts in spelling, syntax, and other areas allowed to form own platform for NLP in Office and to develop Bing/Cognitive Services APIs;

(NLP) efforts in spelling, syntax, and other areas allowed to form own platform for NLP in Office and to develop Bing/Cognitive Services APIs; MS has been working on Knowledge Graphs since 2007, it built an ontology of the everyday things in early 2008;

since 2007, it built an ontology of the everyday things in early 2008; Computer Vision efforts led to Bing’s Lenses, Office Lenses in Windows Phone and iOS, as well to Kinect and the recently available AR headset, HoloLens. Computer vision also may become a part of a digital assistant, enabling it to describe the world around[5].