Microsoft CEO directs staff to avoid addiction-focused AI design

Microsoft's chief executive sent an internal message stating that making users dependent on a new AI tool is not a company objective. The message was posted on an internal board and addressed about 50 top software engineers. It referenced a memo written by a corporate vice president leading development of the tool named Scout.

Internal memo and executive response The memo outlined a plan to move Scout "from addictive app to agentic platform." Its first phase called for adding features that would make "people depend on it daily." The chief executive wrote that the approach was "absolutely a non goal" and that the company instead wants AI to "empower and add real value to human endeavor and broad economic growth." The message also stated that anyone responsible for the document "may want to go work elsewhere."

rollout Microsoft introduced Scout at its Build conference in San Francisco earlier this week. A company blog post described the tool as an "always-on personal agent" that can schedule meetings, flag priorities, and prepare materials. The product is intended to reduce coordination work inside widely used productivity software.

The company has not released a public timeline for broader availability. A separate report by 404 Media quoted an unnamed employee who called the leaked memo "very troubling" and said addiction should not be part of any product strategy.