Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Says AI Power Is Too Concentrated — Here’s What MSFT Is Doing About It

TLDR

• Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella warned that a few AI companies are gaining too much control over the technology
• Nadella criticized AI leaders who warn of job losses while demanding massive resources for data center expansion
• Microsoft is rolling out cheaper AI models and tools that let users switch between different models
• Microsoft is considering hosting DeepSeek, a low-cost Chinese AI model that rivals OpenAI and Anthropic
• Wall Street gives Microsoft a Strong Buy rating with an average price target of $557.64

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is pushing back against the growing power of a small group of AI companies, saying the public won’t accept a world where just a few players control how AI develops.

Microsoft Corporation, MSFT

Nadella made the comments in a Wall Street Journal interview published June 21, 2026. He warned that companies can’t predict massive job losses and safety risks while also demanding unlimited resources to build data centers.

While he didn’t name them directly, his comments appeared aimed at OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google, the three companies building the most advanced AI models today.

Microsoft Pushes for Cheaper, More Flexible AI

Microsoft has been rolling out lower-cost AI models in recent weeks. The company also launched Copilot tools that let users pick from different AI models, including cheaper ones, for longer tasks.

This strategy puts Microsoft in a different position than its rivals. Rather than racing to build the most powerful model, it wants to be the neutral platform where companies can access and manage many different models.

Microsoft is also considering hosting a version of DeepSeek on its Copilot platform. DeepSeek is a Chinese AI provider that offers very low-cost models. OpenAI and Anthropic have accused it of copying their top models.

If Microsoft moves forward with DeepSeek, it could drive up usage of the Chinese provider while putting more price pressure on OpenAI and Anthropic.

A Shift in Microsoft’s AI Position

The move marks a change in direction for Nadella, who helped build OpenAI into one of the most valuable AI companies in the world. Microsoft has invested billions in OpenAI and also signed a multibillion-dollar deal with Anthropic last year.

In the second half of 2025, Microsoft Copilot users were increasingly switching to Google’s Gemini, according to market research firm Recon Analytics. Without a top-tier model of its own, Microsoft appears to be taking a different path.

Nadella said AI companies need to “earn the social permission” to change how work is done. He called on the industry to show that AI can reorganize jobs, not just eliminate them.

He described a future where companies use a mix of AI models and human workers as a “continuous learning system,” with intellectual property kept secure to avoid becoming commoditized.

Microsoft stock rose 0.13% on the day of the interview. Wall Street analysts give the stock a Strong Buy rating, with 35 out of 37 analysts recommending a Buy. The average price target is $557.64, about 47% above where the stock currently trades.

A Microsoft spokesman said the company will continue to work with both OpenAI and Anthropic, and that Nadella’s push is not a “zero-sum game.”

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