In the quiet hours of the night, when most of the world is asleep, people turn to technology for answers to life’s biggest questions. According to Microsoft’s 2025 Copilot Usage Report released today, more people are chatting with AI about religion and philosophy in the wee hours of the morning. And as AI is increasingly woven into the fabric of everyday life, it’s changing how we do research and even how we ask for advice. Read on for the five biggest takeaways from the annual usage report.

More than 300 million informal workers on India’s e-Shram database now have a shot at better jobs, thanks to AI. Access to tools like a resume builder and skills gap analyst powered by Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service helps them shift to the formal sector, which promises regular hours and social security.

India is poised for a transformative leap in artificial intelligence, as Microsoft announces a $17.5 billion investment over four years to accelerate cloud and AI infrastructure, workforce skills and operational capacity. Building on $3 billion already committed, the initiative aligns with national ambitions for inclusive growth and innovation.

In Chile’s drought-battered Maipo Basin, Kilimo’s data-driven and AI powered water platform is reshaping the rules of farming. By blending satellite data, agronomist know-how and Microsoft Azure, Kilimo helps farmers slash water use. The result is more than 74 million cubic feet of water saved — enough for 10,000 Santiago homes. It has become precision agriculture with real impact, farmers say, and a blueprint for water stewardship around the world.

The way we use AI is changing, fast. In the coming months, Microsoft researchers predict that we’ll see more humans teaming up with the technology (serving as lab assistants for scientists, for example). They think that 2026 will be the year AI starts to reshape how we work and solve problems. Read on for nearly 20 predictions about 2026 from Microsoft Research.

Cancer is among the most complex challenges in healthcare today. Now, a new AI tool from Microsoft Research allows researchers to study tumor environments at a scale never seen before. GigaTIME is already advancing research and eventually could help identify patients who might benefit from specific treatments and improve their odds.

AI is about to level up in 2026, moving from experimental sidekick to true collaborator. Experts predict a year when people and AI team up in surprising new ways. Curious what’s next? Dive into the seven trends set to define the year and discover why the smartest move isn’t competing with AI, but learning to work alongside it.

In 2025, Microsoft published numerous research papers in peer-reviewed journals, sharing findings with others to build upon. Here is a look at how AI and other technologies are accelerating innovation in banking, healthcare, life sciences and energy – and charting a path for much-needed breakthroughs.

Levi Strauss & Co. is turning 170 years of retail wisdom into AI-driven agility. With Copilot and custom agents like Minerva, its teams are surfacing insights, automating workflows and rethinking processes. It’s a ground-up reinvention of how a heritage brand works in the AI era.

The Microsoft Store Awards have crowned the 2025 champions. From standout apps to innovative experiences, these winners set the bar for what’s possible on Windows. Check out the winners.

Most cyberattacks are routine and preventable, experts say, and the fix is to stop making it easy for hackers. In a new post, Microsoft deputy chief information security officers say organizations should be focusing on four basics: cyber hygiene, modern security standards, fingerprinting bad actors and collaboration.

Small businesses can’t afford scattered tools and wasted time. Microsoft brings everything together — secure, integrated AI, productivity apps and an enterprise resource planning system tailored for small businesses. The result: streamlined workflows, more educated decisions and reliable data management so you can focus on growth, not gaps.

Health care cybersecurity isn’t just about tech — it’s about trust. As AI and cloud technology transform care, cyberthreats are escalating. To keep medical operations  secure, leaders have to collaborate, train teams and manage vendor risks. Read tips from top security leaders  about keeping patient data safe in a rapidly changing world.  

Today is United Nations-sponsored International Day of Disabled Persons, which aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development. Microsoft is paying homage to the day in several ways. First, the company is releasing new research from Forrester that shows more than 70% of the U.S. population now stands to benefit from accessible technology, regardless of disability status. In another post, Microsoft is reaffirming the company’s commitment to a better screen reading experience for people who are blind or have low vision. Finally, the Windows Accessibility team is wrapping up the year by highlighting how Microsoft products are evolving based on feedback and insights from the disability community.

By combining data across departments and making it easy to share with citizens via an AI companion, Italy’s Bolzano Province and Microsoft are turning an old bureaucratic paradigm on its head.  A “one-stop shop” web portal puts citizens first, with an AI companion to provide answers and bring help from the government.

AI is rewriting the rules of cybersecurity, fast. What once took the resources of a nation-state now fits in a prompt. But the real weak spot isn’t tech; it’s talent. To stay secure, leaders must build teams that think critically, adapt quickly and keep learning, because yesterday’s playbook won’t work tomorrow.

Forget socks — this season’s best gift is storage and speed. Microsoft’s Xbox Holiday Gift Guide is stacked with highlights like a 4TB Seagate expansion card, sleek ROG Xbox Ally accessories for handheld warriors and audio gear for every budget. Whether gifting or upgrading, this guide has picks to power up any gaming setup.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…and that means it’s time for the annual Microsoft holiday sweater reveal! There are three available this season: one featuring Microsoft icons from yesteryear like Clippy, another that’s an homage to the classic Zune and one featuring a holiday-ified Xbox logo. You can order them through the Microsoft Company Store.

Retailers face shrinking margins, labor shortages and rising customer expectations. While AI isn’t a cure-all, agentic AI can drive agility, personalization and innovation in the retail space — but only as part of a broader strategy.

Holiday shopping just got a little easier. Microsoft Edge now folds Copilot into the browser, bringing tools like price tracking, history and cash-back offers to one spot. Starting today in the U.S., you can turn on Copilot Mode and have it act as a built-in shopping assistant for participating retailers, helping you compare, save and shop smarter — without having to leave your tab.

Xbox is widening its reach with cloud gaming, now in 29 countries, including India, as global play surges. Streaming hours jumped 45% year over year, with console and mobile use climbing sharply. Latin America shows double-digit growth, and new TV app options plus expanded servers aim to keep pace with demand.

Now you don’t have to pause your game to search the internet for answer — Gaming Copilot is now available in the Xbox mobile app. It can read what’s on your screen, respond to your voice and even offer to help in real time, whether you’re stuck on a quest or battling a boss. Read about this and other gaming updates and see what new titles have been added to Xbox Play Anywhere and Retro Classics in the Xbox November update.

Today, Xbox and Crocs debuted a controller-inspired clog, complete with fixed buttons and cushioned “Player Left” and “Player Right” footbeds. The limited-edition drop also packs five charms featuring icons from Halo, Fallout, DOOM, World of Warcraft and Sea of Thieves.

The AI landscape is at a threshold: Models are evolving from assistants to true collaborators — understanding objectives, factoring constraints and executing complex workflows. Claude Opus 4.5 exemplifies this shift, now in public preview through Microsoft Foundry, GitHub Copilot paid plans and Microsoft Copilot Studio.

Microsoft is doubling down on Thailand’s AI future with a major strategic push. The plan includes local cloud and AI infrastructure, digital literacy programs and a new national AI innovation center — partnering with several other companies to deliver high-performance services and drive innovation nationwide.

Microsoft is unlocking a legend: Zork I–III are going open source! The text-based adventure game through the ruins of the Great Underground Empire asked players to type text commands to navigate, solve puzzles and collect treasures. Powered by the Z-Machine, Zork became a cross platform pioneer. Now, students, teachers and devs can peek under the hood to learn and play the code that built worlds with nothing but words.

The Xbox full-screen experience is now live on Windows 11 handhelds, delivering faster, console-like gameplay with direct boot into Xbox. It’s also in preview for PCs — laptops, desktops and tablets — offering a controller-first user experience, easy game browsing across libraries and quick app switching for a seamless gaming experience.

Microsoft Copilot Studio is the backbone of agentic business transformation — turning AI into real impact. It helps organizations automate workflows, build single-purpose or multi-agent solutions and scale securely. With new features for makers, admins and everyday users, Copilot Studio can help increase productivity, governance and even ROI — delivering speed-to-value without sacrificing control.

AI search is rewriting the rules of discovery. Instead of endless hyperlinks, users get instant, conversational answers that shape their decisions. Visibility — through impressions, citations and structured content — now drives influence before the audience ever clicks in. For advertisers and content owners this might mean fewer visits but higher intent. Conversions are stronger, even as journeys are shorter. In the AI era, clarity and presence matter more than volume. Find out how this can impact the content you create.

While we could all spend hours doomscrolling on our phones, playing video games can take that screen time and turn it into meaning. At least, that’s what a new survey of 1,500 U.S. gamers shows. They report finding meaning, connection and self-expression in gaming, saying it’s time well spent and one of the most fulfilling and socially connected experiences today.