Nadella warns Microsoft’s AI growth depends on more than a few big customers

Nadella distinguished between short-term gains from AI-native startups and long-term enterprise adoption, which he described as a decade-long process. He highlighted examples like Unilever’s automated order-taking, Rolls-Royce’s AI-optimized jet-engine supply chain, and RBI’s AI integration across 20+ processes, emphasizing cost savings and operational efficiency over flashy new models. The shift toward reliability, security, and cost management—rather than chasing the next breakthrough—will determine whether AI spending becomes a stable, recurring investment for businesses.