Satya Nadella talks about the market for AI, search engines, and operating systems. He sees competition with Google as an opportunity.
How can Google earn more with Windows than Microsoft? Satya Nadella, as CEO of Microsoft, is a guest on the BG2-Podcast on YouTube. There he explains interesting points: “Google makes more money with Windows than [we] do ourselves.”
He refers to the fact that Google’s market power in search engines remains unbroken. According to data from the Federal Statistical Office (Statista), Google accounted for 80 percent of all web searches on desktop PCs in November 2024. The market share of Windows on PCs remains gigantic: Around 73 percent of all desktop PCs ran some version of Windows in November 2024, as can be verified on StatCounter.
It is a banal truth that every Windows user knows. The first drive is always called C. But why did Microsoft introduce this in the first place? The following video explains this IT curiosity:
Windows as a Platform
So people use Windows, but they search with Google, and the money from advertising naturally ends up there and not in Redmond at Nadella’s company. Microsoft’s own search engine Bing reached just under 12 percent. It has only marginally caught up in market share for years.
Browser usage is similar: Google Chrome clearly dominates. Microsoft’s Edge served as a toolbox for the internet on about 11 percent of all devices (PC, tablet, and phone) in November 2024 (via Statista).
“This is the best news for Microsoft’s shareholders”
Isn’t this a disaster for Microsoft? No, at least the head of the IT giant looks relaxed at the situation: “This is the best news for Microsoft’s shareholders,” he expresses joy over this situation. Because Microsoft could focus on winning customers back.
Especially the area of Artificial Intelligence
is crucial for this. He himself no longer relies on Bing (the classic search engine) for many searches, but uses Microsoft Co-Pilot. This is an AI agent, similar to ChatGPT.
Shareholders seem to really like it: The stock price has been climbing almost continuously since the 2010s. (via Boerse).
How does Microsoft make its money today? It is also the truth that Microsoft is no longer making its money primarily from selling software like Windows or Office. The advertising revenue from Bing is also not decisive.
In 2024, about 2/5 of the approximately 230 billion annual revenue came solely from the so-called Intelligent Cloud
. This includes services like the online storage service OneDrive or AI services like Co-Pilot, as well as servers that the company provides for businesses worldwide (via Federal Statistical Office (Statista) and Microsoft).
If you are still using Windows 10, we have some tips for you that can not only speed up your system but also strengthen its protection against threats. Because even after many years, some settings are hidden in the depths of the control panels and menus: Those still using Windows 10 should change 5 settings to make their PC faster and more secure
