Can Microsoft get smarter? Inside the tech giant's massive bet on AI

Microsoft has so far released its artificial intelligence technologies largely through its well-known software platforms, such as the Cortana voice assistant on Windows 10, automated language translation in Microsoft Office, and AI-powered speech, vision, search and language technologies for developers on Microsoft Azure. Artificial intelligence specialists at the company are now working closely with its devices group, said Harry Shum, the executive vice president of Microsoft's AI and Research group, in a broader interview with GeekWire about the next phase of the company's AI initiatives. Without giving details, Shum said he expects some "very, very exciting devices" to result from the work by the company's AI engineers and devices group. Shum mentioned this as an aside, not to get the gadget blogs buzzing but to underscore the scope of what Microsoft is trying to do. As part of the massive engineering reorganization announced by CEO Satya Nadella last week, the company is attempting to bring artificial intelligence into everything it does.