Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Satya Nadella revealed that artificial intelligence is now responsible for generating about 30% of the company’s code. Speaking at the inaugural LlamaCon conference during a fireside chat with Meta Platforms Inc. founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Nadella shared insights into Microsoft’s experience with AI-powered coding.
Nadella was responding to Zuckerberg’s question about the proportion of Microsoft’s code that was AI-generated. While the quality of AI-generated Python code is “pretty high,” Nadella admitted that the technology still struggles with more complex languages like C++. This nuanced view suggests that while AI has made significant strides in coding, there’s still considerable progress to be made.
Comparison with Other Tech Giants
Microsoft’s experience appears to be on par with its rival Google LLC. During an earnings call last week, Google CEO Sundar Pichai reported that AI is generating just over 30% of the company’s code. However, both companies may be ahead of Meta, as Zuckerberg admitted to not having a clear estimate of how much of Meta’s code is AI-generated.
The Road to Widespread AI Adoption
The conversation between Nadella and Zuckerberg touched on the broader implications of AI development. Microsoft Chief Technology Officer Kevin Scott had previously predicted that more than 95% of all code would be written by AI by 2030. However, Nadella was cautious in his assessment, likening the adoption of AI to the historical emergence of electricity. “It took around 50 years before the bulk of the world’s factories learned how to take advantage of electricity to increase productivity,” Nadella explained.
Zuckerberg shared Nadella’s cautious optimism, emphasizing that true AI impact should be measured through “major increases in GDP.” Both CEOs agreed that while AI shows promise, significant productivity gains are still years away. Zuckerberg humorously noted, “We’re all investing now as if it’s not going to take 50 years, so I hope it doesn’t take 50 years.”
The full discussion between Zuckerberg and Nadella can be viewed in a video posted by Meta Platforms. As the tech industry continues to invest heavily in AI development, the insights from these industry leaders provide valuable context about both the current state and future potential of AI in software development.
