Microsoft is aiming to usher in an “era of AI agents,” with CEO Satya Nadella recently appointing a former top executive from Mark Zuckerberg’s team to lead the charge.
In January, Satya Nadella appointed Jay Parikh to lead CoreAI, a newly formed AI division at the heart of Microsoft’s mission to enable developers to create digital assistants that can handle tasks traditionally done by humans.
As Parikh navigates his first Microsoft Build conference in this role, internal memos highlight his vision for CoreAI, its initial achievements, and his recommendations for tackling internal challenges. Microsoft has not provided a comment on the matter.
Parikh’s strategy emphasizes building scalable AI infrastructure, unifying fragmented teams, and driving operational excellence. Already, CoreAI has contributed to $337 million in cost savings and helped secure a major Azure deal with Harvey AI worth $150 million.
Beyond technical gains, Parikh is pushing for a cultural shift—urging Microsoft employees to focus on customer impact, system-wide thinking, and faster execution. He has also implemented regular operational reviews and post-incident analysis to root out inefficiencies and scale best practices.
As Microsoft races to stay ahead in the AI arms race, CoreAI is shaping up to be a cornerstone of its long-term vision—and Jay Parikh, its key architect.