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.

Jul
2026
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: Microsoft
Apr
2026
Revises 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.

Jul
2025
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 report
Jan
2025
AI 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: Microsoft
Mar
2023
Introduces Microsoft 365 Copilot
Generative AI enters Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams workflows, creating a new commercial software offering.
Source: Microsoft
Jan
2023
Expands its OpenAI investment
The companies announce a multiyear, multibillion-dollar extension of the partnership begun in 2019.
Source: OpenAI
Jul
2019
Invests $1B in OpenAI
The initial multiyear agreement links OpenAI’s research with Azure AI supercomputing infrastructure.
Source: Microsoft
Dec
2016
Completes the LinkedIn acquisition
The professional network joins Microsoft, expanding its business software, data and distribution ecosystem.
Source: LinkedIn
1975
Microsoft is founded
The software company later expands from personal computing into enterprise software, cloud infrastructure and AI.
Source: Microsoft