Microsoft CEO rejects slop label for AI

Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, once again shared his vision about the future of technology, and clarified that for him 2026 will mark a turning point in the way artificial intelligence is used and discussed. In a new text published on his personal blog, sn scratchpad, Nadella argues that it no longer makes sense to reduce AI to labels such as slop, an expression increasingly used to criticize content considered superficial, sloppy or not very useful.

In the text he wrote, Nadella begins by acknowledging that this is not the first time that there has been talk of a decisive year for AI, but reinforces that this moment is different. According to the Microsoft official, the technology has already surpassed the initial discovery phase and has entered a massive dissemination phase. AI is arriving everywhere, which requires a stricter separation between what is just fuss and what really has an impact.

Even so, Microsoft’s CEO recognizes that the path is far from linear. The evolution of models has been faster than the ability to apply them consistently in the real world, a delay he describes as an excess of models. For Nadella, we are just at the beginning of a long marathon, with many uncertainties along the way.

One of the main points of the text is how AI should be viewed. Nadella recalls the classic idea of ​​computers as bicycles for the mind, arguing that artificial intelligence should function as a support structure for human potential, and not as a substitute. In this sense, he considers the discussion between slop and sophistication to be sterile, and proposes a new balance in the way humans interact with each other when they have access to these cognitive amplification tools.

The executive also talks about an important change in the way AI is built and implemented. Instead of isolated models, the focus will increasingly be on complete systems, capable of coordinating multiple models and agents, managing memory, permissions and using tools securely. For Nadella, it is this technical sophistication that will allow us to extract the real value of AI in everyday life.

Finally, the Microsoft CEO draws attention to the social and political dimension of the issue. The use of artificial intelligence, according to him, must be done consciously and with the aim of solving concrete problems for people and the planet. The technology will only gain true acceptance if it shows real impact, especially in an environment where resources such as energy, computing power and talent are limited.

Nadella ends with a message of caution, but also of ambition. The process will inevitably be messy, as with any major technological leap. Even so, he believes that, as has happened throughout the history of computing, AI can become one of the most profound trends ever, as long as it remains focused on empowering people and organizations. This is the path that he hopes will be reinforced from 2026 onwards.

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