Brad Smith, President of Microsoft and co-author of "Tools and Weapons," examines the dual nature of technology and the essential need for responsibility among tech firms. He reflects on lessons from the 2001 antitrust case and critiques Silicon Valley's 'move fast and break things' mentality. Smith discusses the fallout from events like the Cambridge Analytica scandal and advocates for a national privacy bill by 2024. This insightful conversation touches on the importance of ethical governance and the role tech companies play in societal challenges.
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Microsoft's Antitrust Battle
Microsoft faced antitrust investigations in the 1990s, culminating in a court order to break up the company.
The order was later overturned on appeal, but Microsoft still faced regulatory actions.
insights INSIGHT
Lesson from Antitrust
During the antitrust issues, Microsoft had to confront how others perceived the company, not just their own self-image.
This led to accepting more responsibility for their impact and addressing the world they shaped.
insights INSIGHT
Microsoft's Cultural Evolution
Microsoft's culture evolved in two phases: the 2000s focused on building bridges and accepting restraints.
Satya Nadella, in the 2010s, added a growth mindset and emphasized trust, which unleashed innovation.
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In 'Tools and Weapons,' Brad Smith and Carol Ann Browne offer a captivating narrative from the perspective of Microsoft, one of the world's largest tech companies. The book delves into pressing issues like privacy, cybercrime, cyberwar, social media, the moral conundrums of AI, big tech's relationship to inequality, and the challenges for democracy. Updated to reflect the tumultuous events of 2020, the book includes new chapters on cybersecurity, technology and nation-states, and tech in the pandemic. It provides a transparent and honest look at Microsoft's decision-making process and its efforts to address the complex issues arising from technological advancements.
Microsoft President Brad Smith talks with Recode’s Kara Swisher about his new book, co-authored with Carol Ann Browne, Tools and Weapons: The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age. They discuss what Microsoft learned from United States v. Microsoft Corp. in 2001 and how that antitrust investigation compares to today’s techlash; the culture of disruption and “move fast and break things” in Silicon Valley; and why every tech company, even those not responsible for problems, should be part of the solutions. Smith also talks about the impact of Edward Snowden’s NSA leak and the Cambridge Analytica scandal, how the government can expand the opportunities enjoyed by the tech world with more of America, and tech regulation around the world — including why Smith believes the US will have a national privacy bill by 2024. Plus: Is it inevitable that big tech companies will be broken up?
Kara Swisher (@karaswisher), Recode co-founder and editor-at-large
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