In anticipation of Microsoft’s upcoming 50th anniversary next year, GeekWire is launching a year-long project to delve into the company’s history, key figures, milestones, and future direction. From its humble beginnings with the release of the BASIC for the Altair nearly 50 years ago to its current initiatives in artificial intelligence, Microsoft’s journey is a colorful and tumultuous tale in business history. This project will explore how Microsoft rose, fell, and rebounded, with a focus on understanding where the company is headed next.
This editorial project, made possible with support from Accenture, will involve a series of stories on GeekWire, special podcast episodes, and a half-day conference scheduled for the first quarter of 2025. The project aims to bring fresh insights into Microsoft’s evolution by revisiting significant milestones and missteps in its history, leveraging historical context to shed light on recent developments within the company and the technology industry at large. The series will kick off with an exploration of Microsoft’s roots in artificial intelligence, highlighting key decisions that have shaped its current position in the AI landscape and discussing future implications.
Subsequent installments in the Microsoft @ 50 project will focus on the past and future of Microsoft’s major franchises, such as Xbox and Windows. The project will also feature interviews with notable Microsoft alumni to provide an update on their current endeavors and the impact of their time at the company. Through this comprehensive exploration of Microsoft’s history and trajectory, the project aims to provide a holistic view of the company’s evolution over the past five decades and its potential pathways in the years ahead.
As a seasoned reporter with over 20 years of experience covering Microsoft, the project lead is enthusiastic about reexamining Microsoft’s journey with a fresh perspective, drawing connections between past events and current developments to provide a deeper understanding of the company’s trajectory. Readers are encouraged to stay tuned for updates on the Microsoft @ 50 event and upcoming stories in the series, offering a comprehensive look at one of the most iconic and influential technology companies in history.
