Microsoft at 50: Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, and Satya Nadella Reunite for an Unfiltered Copilot Chat

It is not a day that you see the three legendary CEOs of Microsoft — Satya Nadella, Bill Gates, and Steve Ballmer — smile, jest, and reminisce together side by side. But that is what you saw at Microsoft's 50th anniversary celebration. Putting a touch of futurism to the scene was the host of the event: Microsoft Copilot, the firm's in-house AI assistant, who served as interviewer as well as occasional comedian for the evening.

To celebrate the milestone, Copilot hosted a fun yet thoughtful conversation with the three, intertwining a combination of tech musings, reminiscences, and some playful roasting — all presented with AI-infused charm.

Copilot led off with a lighthearted dig at Ballmer. "Steve," it joked, "your energy is the stuff of legend, but do you ever fear that your intensity will short circuit the AI? Even robots require a coffee break after your pep talks.

Ballmer, ever the dynamo, answered in true form: "Come on, dude. If you can't handle me, you can't handle a huge percentage of the world's population. We're counting on you."

The AI then directed its gaze at Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. In a playful tone, it asked, "Bill, you've got that trademark contemplative look. do you think AI would be intimidated by your serious thinking face? It's like it's holding out for a blue screen of death moment.

Gates grinned, taking it in stride. "I hope so. I mean, that's all I've got left as these AIs get so damn smart. It's just that look and my willingness to critique that differentiates me."

Taking the comment into account, Copilot responded with feigned admiration, "And a powerful look it is. Would I criticize Bill? Absolutely. Criticism is where progress occurs."

Finally, the AI put in a cheeky question to current CEO Satya Nadella, asking if he ever feared his "AI sidekick" would one day usurp his job. Nadella laughed before replying, "Well, the day that I can play like the best cricket player that I love, that's the day it can run the show, as far as I'm concerned."

“Touché, Satya,” Copilot responded. “Let’s see if it can hit a century in cricket, and then we’ll talk.”

As the conversation came to a close, the three leaders raised their glasses in a symbolic toast to five decades of technological advancement. “Cheers,” they said in harmony.

Copilot, not missing a beat, joined in: “Cheers. Whatever that means to an AI. Is it drink?”