Microsoft’s UK Impact report: ‘Driving innovation, earning trust’

Microsoft UK has published its UK Impact Report, detailing the many ways the company is building a responsible and secure future through technology, contributing to the nation’s economic growth, and furthering equity and fundamental rights.

In the new era of generative AI, Microsoft is facilitating unprecedented gains in productivity and creativity, both in its own operations and in those of its partners and customers, the report finds.

“At Microsoft, we are creating the foundations to support economic growth, scientific discoveries and innovation,” writes Clare Barclay, CEO, Microsoft UK, pointing out that her company, working with its 34,000 partners, contributes more than £38bn in revenue to the UK economy.

“We are deeply committed to the future success of the UK.”

Powerful new technologies – cloud computing, data analytics, generative AI – are accelerating the discovery of new life-saving medicines and improving medical services, for example. The report cites the work of NHS Grampian, which is using AI to help staff detect cancer, cut the backlog of mammograms, and deliver results to patients faster.

AI is also helping to remove time-wasting bureaucracy in our local authorities and hospitals; tackle cybercrime; and help mitigate climate change and preserve biodiversity, to name but a few applications.

And with the UK home to some of the most innovative businesses, research institutions, and creative communities in the world, the country is primed to take a leadership role in how to maximise the benefits of AI in a safe, secure and responsible manner.

Opportunity for all

The report outlines how Microsoft is facilitating the AI-enabled economy by offering digital skills courses and training to hundreds of thousands of people, a key feature of its mission to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more.

The company is also enabling non-profits, entrepreneurs, and other organisations to transform digitally and address some of society’s biggest challenges.

To date, Microsoft has:

• helped 1.34 million people adopt digital skills
• helped 30,000 build careers in tech since 2020 due to Microsoft’s AI-first investments
• pledged to equip a further 1 million people with AI skills.

Underpinning everything Microsoft does are the principles of:

• expanding opportunity
• earning trust
• protecting fundamental rights
• advancing sustainability.

Security and trust

To create positive impact with technology, Microsoft believes it is essential that people trust both the technologies they use and the companies behind them, the report says.

This is why it is committed to the responsible use of AI, protecting privacy, and advancing digital safety and cybersecurity, following six Responsible AI principles as a framework.

And Microsoft works with 34,000 partners to integrate these Responsible AI tools and practices into their organisations.

Embedding this responsibility is critical in 2024, with more voters than ever before in a single year heading to the polls to vote. To protect voters, candidates, political campaigns, and election authorities, Microsoft is proactively promoting reliable news services, and working with organisations to brief politicians on the risks of disinformation. 

Fundamental rights

The report also highlights Microsoft’s efforts to advance fair and inclusive societies, by promoting responsible business practices and expanding accessibility and connectivity.

For example, the company works with partners such as the Department for Work and Pensions to train more than 1,000 work coaches in accessibility fundamentals to help jobseekers with disabilities receive support and guidance.

Sustainable future

Climate change is the defining issue of our generation, and addressing it requires swift, collective action and technological innovation, the report says.

Microsoft is committed to meeting its own net zero goals, aiming to be carbon negative by 2030, protecting more land it uses by 2025, and sourcing responsibly. And it is helping others fulfil their own environmental goals.

Microsoft – its technologies and culture – supports UK economic growth, aids scientific discovery, and accelerates innovation, all underpinned by a commitment to security, equity and sustainability, the report concludes.