Microsoft has achieved a milestone that so few technology companies have achieved: Turning 50 years old. The Windows maker has transformed itself over the past five decades, moving from powering personal computers to being a cloud computing contender and now a leader in artificial intelligence. To mark this historic occasion, the company held an event at its Redmond, Washington, headquarters campus on April 4, 2025, introducing new Copilot features and bringing together all three of Microsoft’s CEOs.
Here are some photos I took from inside the celebration:
Microsoft’s 50th-anniversary event was open to its employees, guests, and the media. It was divided into two parts, with the first part featuring Copilot updates live-streamed and the second half exclusively for those inside the organization. However, due to multiple interruptions from now-former employees angry about Microsoft’s work with Israel, it appears video footage was taken offline.
A litany of noted Microsoft employees, past and present, were in attendance, including Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer, who donned a Minecraft-inspired track jacket. It was to celebrate the premiere of “A Minecraft Movie,” a live-action adaptation of the beloved game starring Jack Black and Jason Mamoa. Others in the audience included Microsoft Vice-Chair and President Brad Smith, Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood, and Consumer Chief Marketing Officer Yusef Mehdi.
The day’s programming started with current Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella offering brief remarks about the company’s history milestone. He paid tribute to his predecessors, Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, who were seated in the front row, as well as Microsoft’s other co-founder, the late Paul Allen.
It’s especially exciting to be doing it at a time like this. For me, though, it starts with Bill [Gates] and Steve [Ballmer], who are both here with us today. I want to say a very big thank you to the two of you, and to Paul [Allen], and what you’ve meant to me personally and your vision that you had building this extraordinary company of ours that I’ve had the privilege to be part of. Thank you for your vision, your leadership, your passion, and for building the Microsoft that we know today. A company that has truly changed the world.
Nadella then stepped away to give the spotlight to his lieutenant, Mustafa Suleyman, who heads up Microsoft’s AI efforts. After all, it was time to announce the new features coming to Copilot. For around the next 45 minutes, Suleyman discussed the company’s desire to transform its AI assistant into a bot that would work for everyone.
To make the news more personal, Suleyman would bring on stage two people who use Copilot in real-world situations. One of them was a dog trainer who brought his Newfoundland pet—it absolutely stole the show.
Something I found amusing was the reference to a beloved character Microsoft teased could be making a comeback…sort of. Suleyman previewed a Copilot feature the company was experimenting with that would enable users to customize how their AI bot looks. It’s entirely possible that your personal Copilot could take the appearance of Clippy in the future.
Following the product announcements, Microsoft shifted gears to hold an employee-only event. It was emceed by “Running Point” and “Suite Life” actress Brenda Song, who hosted a talk show with guests Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, Chief Communications Officer Frank Shaw, and Nadella.
Ballmer’s conversation with Song was perhaps the most interesting, largely thanks to his exuberance. He generously recreated his famous “Developers!” chant and led the audience in another cheer when asked about Microsoft’s next half-century. Ballmer also explained why there was always a honey bottle on the front of the stage when he spoke.
“Sure, it was usually stationed about here,” he said, pointing to the part of the stage where someone would place the bottle. “And if I was giving a speech that went for an hour—and I apologize to anybody who was there—my voice would blow, you pop the honey…”
Ballmer immediately popped open the bottle to take a swig, much to the crowd’s astonishment. However, to much disappointment, he was unsuccessful because the bottle was still sealed.
Eventually, the moment we’ve been waiting for arrived. At the event’s conclusion, all three CEOs stepped onto the stage together, reuniting for a photo opportunity that hadn’t happened in the past 11 years. It was fitting because of Microsoft’s 50th anniversary—these three people have shaped the company’s history.
After receiving a standing ovation, Gates, Ballmer, and Nadella joined interviewer Cloe Abram, the journalist behind “Huge If True,” to reminisce on their impact. Their time on stage would be briefly interrupted by a second protester who was promptly escorted out of the venue. Nevertheless, they didn’t skip a beat, heaping praise on one another and joking about how the fourth CEO might be Copilot.
▶️ You can see more photos on my Flickr account.
Featured Image: Microsoft commemorates its five decades of business with special signage on its Redmond, Washington campus headquarters on April 4, 2025. Photo credit: Ken Yeung
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.