Key takeaways
- The Microsoft India Development Centre has marked 25 years of impactful research and development in technology.
- IDC has been instrumental in advancing major Microsoft products, including Azure, Windows, and Office.
- The centre is now focusing on utilising AI and LLMs to drive innovation and enhance product development.
- Significant contributions include the Microsoft 365 mobile app, which serves over 100 million users worldwide.
- IDC has promoted linguistic diversity by supporting 20 Indian languages on Microsoft Translator and developing localised AI solutions.
The Microsoft India Development Centre (IDC) is observing 25 years of pioneering research, engineering, and development, which has played a crucial role in shaping top-tier products like Copilots and various AI applications.
The celebration of this milestone at IDC Hyderabad featured the presence of cricket legend Kapil Dev.
Over the past quarter-century, IDC has significantly contributed to the creation and advancement of key Microsoft offerings, including Azure, Windows, Office, and Bing. Its work has been integral to furthering Microsoft's mission of empowering individuals and organisations globally.
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Currently, IDC is positioned for the next phase of innovation and impact, utilising AI and LLMs to enhance existing products, introduce new ones, and revolutionise the product development process.
Noteworthy achievements from IDC's 25-year history include IDC playing a pivotal role in developing and launching the Microsoft 365 (Office) mobile app, a suite of productivity apps for Android and iOS devices. This app boasts over 100 million monthly active users globally, providing a seamless and secure experience across various devices.
Moreover, IDC's efforts enabled support for 20 Indian languages on Microsoft Translator, fostering linguistic diversity and overcoming language barriers. This technology also contributed to the development of Jugalbandi, a generative AI chatbot facilitating easy access to information on Government services for millions of Indians in their local languages.
IDC has also been a frontrunner in building and managing infrastructure and services for Azure, Microsoft's cloud computing platform. The centre played a key role in creating the Azure Supercomputer, one of the world's most powerful AI supercomputers capable of running large-scale AI models and applications with remarkable speed and efficiency.
In alignment with Microsoft's commitment to enhancing technology accessibility, IDC has developed and improved features such as voice access, narrator, magnifier, eye control, and dictation on Windows 11. These features enable users to interact with their devices using natural and intuitive modalities.
Speaking at the event, Rajiv Kumar, Managing Director, Microsoft IDC, and CVP, Experiences + Devices India, expressed, “Today, we celebrate our achievements and the outstanding workplace culture that attracts the best minds to innovate and create a global impact. As we embark on the next phase of revolutionary generative AI technology, the next 25 years hold even greater promise, with the potential to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more.”
