Bloomberg Talks — Microsoft President Brad Smith Talks Using AI to Advance the Global South

Date: February 18, 2026
Host: Haslinda Amman (Bloomberg)
Guest: Brad Smith (President, Microsoft)

Episode Overview

This episode, recorded live from the Artificial Intelligence Summit in India, centers on the global divide in AI adoption—especially focusing on how AI can be leveraged to support and advance the Global South. Microsoft President Brad Smith discusses the company’s significant investments, the crucial role of education and policy, concerns around jobs and economic development, partnerships in the AI sector, and the evolution and impact of products like Copilot.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Urgency of AI Adoption in the Global South

• Current State:
  • Only 14% of people in the Global South use generative AI compared to about 25% in the Global North—a gap that is widening rapidly.

    “About a quarter of the population in the Global north has access to and is using generative AI. But only 14% in the global South...the rates of growth, it's almost double in the Global north.” (Brad Smith, 00:26)

• Historical Parallel:
  • The AI divide is compared to the historic divide created by electricity, warning that failure to address it could entrench poverty and slow growth.

    “Just as electricity divided the world...we can use AI to really enable the Global south to catch up in terms of economic growth, or we will...risk even exacerbating the great economic divide...” (Brad Smith, 00:36)

2. Risks, Opportunities & Priorities for Investment

• Biggest Risk:
  • Economic prosperity and development, not just jobs, are at stake.

    “It’s about productivity growth, it is about job growth, it's about opportunities for a new and younger population. It's about opportunities to solve real world local problems...” (Brad Smith, 01:29)

• Microsoft’s $50 Billion Commitment:
  • Microsoft plans to spend $50B by 2030 to foster AI in the Global South, focusing on “capability” and “world leading technology.”
  • Private and public sector collaboration is essential to scaling access and impact.

    "It's going to require getting the private markets moving... governments using AI... schools, it requires government, it requires tech companies all working together.” (Brad Smith, 02:21)

3. Reframing Fears about AI and Jobs

• Skepticism in Society:
  • Fear of job loss and tech consolidation was addressed.
• Leadership & Social Responsibility:
  • Technology waves reshape society over years, and humans—not technology—make the crucial decisions.

    “None of this is fundamentally ever about what technology does to people. It's about people making decisions about how to use technology...” (Brad Smith, 03:34)

• Skills & Innovation:
  • Empowering people with new skills is key; many jobs will evolve, new roles will be created, and reskilling/upskilling is essential.

4. Shifting Approach to Hiring in the Age of AI

• New Qualities Sought:
  • Innovation, ambition, and initiative are more important than ever. He recounts an example of a company contest around AI use, emphasizing the need to “find people who want to lean in.”

    “It was about finding the people who wanted to lean in, who wanted to innovate, who had creativity and ambition. I think that’s important and even inspiring...” (Brad Smith, 05:01)

• Role of Entry-level Jobs:
  • Entry-level positions may look more like apprenticeships, exposing recruits to varied tasks.
  • The focus is on hiring adaptable, innovative talent who can grow and help shape a company’s future.

    “Entry level work may become a little bit more like apprenticeships... a great time for employers who are farsighted, who care about talent... not just for the next year, but for the next decade and beyond.” (Brad Smith, 06:10–07:45)

5. Microsoft’s AI Partnerships & Copilot’s Future

• Evolving Partnership with OpenAI:
  • Remains “critically important” but is “less exclusive” than in the past.
  • Collaboration now includes other partners like Anthropic and open-source efforts.

    “We bet on each other, but it's not as exclusive as it was... We have a relationship with Anthropic. We use open source models, we’re developing our own models...” (Brad Smith, 08:05)

• Strategic Justification:
  • The historic collaboration was foundational for generative AI's advancement.

    "Would any of this generative AI sector even exist if the two of us had not come together? ...no one else even understood was possible when they launched ChatGPT." (Brad Smith, 08:58)

• Copilot Adoption:
  • Copilot’s adoption is increasing, with regular improvements and expansion in features.

    “It’s gaining ground. It's getting better every week. It's getting better every month... a key part of our future. It is a key part of... making everyone more creative, more productive." (Brad Smith, 09:49)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the global AI divide:

  “We will turn this moment, I believe, either into a moment where we will close this divide...or we will continue and maybe risk even exacerbating the great economic divide that defines our world today.” (Brad Smith, 00:36)

• On job market and hiring:

  "Flip that on its head. It's a great time for employers who are farsighted...who want to invest in people who are going to build the workforce not just for the next year, but for the next decade and beyond.” (Brad Smith, 07:35)

• On Copilot’s trajectory:

  “It is a key part of our future. It is a key part of, I think, making everyone more creative, more productive. I certainly find that in my own work, each and every day.” (Brad Smith, 09:57)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• AI Access Divide & Historical Parallels: 00:26–01:18
• Microsoft’s Investment & Role of Partnerships: 01:59–03:10
• AI, Jobs & Reskilling Society: 03:28–05:59
• Hiring and The Future Workforce: 05:59–07:59
• Microsoft’s Evolving AI Partnerships: 07:59–09:43
• Outlook on Copilot’s Adoption: 09:43–end

This episode offers a nuanced look at how major tech players can shape global equity in AI, emphasizing the need for collaborative investment, workforce innovation, and sustained commitment to broad societal benefit. Brad Smith’s insights are forward-thinking, practical, and optimistic about harnessing AI for inclusive growth.