More people need to use AI [Video]

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is defending the role of artificial intelligence — particularly in the workplace — like it’s his job.

AI can help people boost their productivity right now, Nadella said during a virtual appearance at the Fast Company Innovation Festival 2024 last week. Longer-term, it could help take on roles, even involving decision-making, across “healthcare or in finance or any other domain,” he said.

“I don’t need to see more evidence … to know that this is working and is going to make a real difference,” said Nadella.

Nadella’s defense of AI tools — including Microsoft’s Copilot, which Nadella uses to automatically prioritize his email inbox, he said — is no surprise. Investments in AI development are expected to surpass $1 trillion “in coming years,” according to a recent Goldman Sachs report, and Microsoft is a leading investor — giving ChatGPT-maker OpenAI $13 billion in funding, to date.

All that money has yet to yield a tool that actually helps most …