Microsoft
Reporting and context on Microsoft, with a closer look at the decisions and developments that matter.
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At a glance
Microsoft develops software, cloud infrastructure and AI products. Coverage follows Azure, Copilot, AI partnerships and enterprise adoption.
- Focus
- Azure; Copilot; enterprise software
- Reference
- Microsoft
Reviewed 19 October 2026. Dates retain the precision of the source; retrospective disclosures are identified in the event. Azure annual revenue, AI annualized revenue and Copilot paid seats retain their distinct definitions.
Company milestones
Revenue, funding, product launches and major company events, newest first. Expand the earlier milestones for more history.
Azure annual sales exceed $100B
Microsoft reports the fiscal-year milestone, alongside more than 30M paid Microsoft 365 Copilot seats. Seats are an adoption measure, not revenue.
Source: MicrosoftRevises the OpenAI partnership
Microsoft’s model license becomes non-exclusive; OpenAI gains flexibility to serve products across clouds while revenue-sharing terms continue under a cap.
Source: OpenAI / Microsoft
Show earlier milestonesHide earlier milestones2025–1975 · 7 milestones
Earlier revenue, financing and company milestones.
Azure annual revenue exceeds $75B
Fiscal 2025 Azure revenue rises 34%; this is the first disclosure of Azure’s annual sales at this scale, rather than total Microsoft Cloud sales.
Source: Microsoft annual reportAI business passes a $13B annual run rate
Microsoft reports 175% year-over-year growth in its AI business’s annualized revenue. This is not the same scope as Azure’s full-year sales.
Source: MicrosoftIntroduces Microsoft 365 Copilot
Generative AI enters Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams workflows, creating a new commercial software offering.
Source: MicrosoftExpands its OpenAI investment
The companies announce a multiyear, multibillion-dollar extension of the partnership begun in 2019.
Source: OpenAIInvests $1B in OpenAI
The initial multiyear agreement links OpenAI’s research with Azure AI supercomputing infrastructure.
Source: MicrosoftCompletes the LinkedIn acquisition
The professional network joins Microsoft, expanding its business software, data and distribution ecosystem.
Source: LinkedInMicrosoft is founded
The software company later expands from personal computing into enterprise software, cloud infrastructure and AI.
Source: Microsoft
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