2026 will be pivotal to AI’s transition from discovery to diffusion: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella

The coming year will mark a decisive phase for artificial intelligence, as the technology moves from early experimentation to widespread, real-world deployment, Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella said in a note on Tuesday.

Reflecting on the year ahead, Nadella argued that AI is transitioning from the “initial phase of discovery” to “widespread diffusion”, with companies and societies beginning to separate spectacle from substance. While progress in model capabilities has been rapid, he cautioned that the industry is still “in the…