How Microsoft Became a Military Powerhouse and Why It Matters

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How Microsoft Started Working with the Military

Microsoft’s journey to becoming a military powerhouse began in the 1970s, when two young programmers, Bill Gates and Paul Allen, started writing software for one of the first personal computers, the Altair 8800. Their first product was a version of the BASIC programming language, which allowed users to create and run their own programs on the Altair.

Their breakthrough came when IBM, the leading computer company at the time, decided to enter the personal computer market in the early 1980s. IBM needed an operating system for its new PC, and Microsoft offered to provide one. Microsoft bought an existing operating system from another company, modified it, and renamed it MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System).

Microsoft struck a deal with IBM that gave them a royalty for every copy of MS-DOS sold, as well as the right to license it to other PC makers. This was a smart move by Gates, who realized that the real money was in the software, not the hardware. Microsoft soon became the dominant force in the PC software market, with MS-DOS and later Windows running on millions of computers around the world.

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How Microsoft Became a Military Innovator

Microsoft’s relationship with the military began in the mid-1990s, when the US Navy approached Gates to create a customized version of Windows for its warships. Gates agreed, and Microsoft developed Windows for Warships, a special version of Windows NT 4.0 that served as the standard operating system on Navy vessels. Windows for Warships enabled the Navy to run various applications and systems, such as navigation, communication, and weapons control, on a single platform.

Since then, Microsoft has expanded its military portfolio, working on various projects and contracts with the Department of Defense and other agencies. Some of the most notable examples include:

• The Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) cloud contract, which could be worth up to $10 billion over 10 years. Microsoft won the contract in 2019, beating out Amazon, the leader in the cloud computing market. The contract aims to provide the Pentagon with a secure and scalable cloud platform that can support its operations and missions around the world.
• The Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) contract, which could be worth up to $21.88 billion over 10 years. Microsoft won the contract in 2021, after providing prototypes of the system to the Army. The contract involves delivering over 120,000 augmented reality headsets, based on Microsoft’s HoloLens technology, to the Army. The headsets will provide soldiers with enhanced situational awareness, information sharing, and decision making in various scenarios.
• The Project Natick experiment, which involves deploying underwater data centers in the ocean. Microsoft launched the first prototype of the project in 2016, and the second one in 2018. The project aims to explore the feasibility and benefits of using the ocean as a source of cooling, power, and connectivity for data centers. The project could potentially reduce the environmental impact and the cost of data center operations.

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Why Microsoft’s Military Role Matters

Microsoft’s involvement in the military sector has raised some ethical and social questions, both within and outside the company. Some of the issues and challenges include:

• The potential misuse or abuse of Microsoft’s technology by the military or other actors, such as human rights violations, civilian casualties, or cyberattacks.
• The possible conflict of interest or influence of Microsoft’s business interests on the military’s decisions and policies, such as favoring Microsoft’s products or services over others, or lobbying for certain outcomes or agendas.
• The moral and legal responsibility and accountability of Microsoft and its employees for the consequences and impacts of their technology on the military and society, such as the legal status, rights, and obligations of the parties involved, or the compensation and redress for the victims or damages caused.

Some of Microsoft’s employees have expressed their opposition or concern over the company’s military contracts, especially the JEDI and IVAS contracts. They have argued that Microsoft’s technology should not be used for war or violence, and that the company should prioritize its values and principles over its profits. They have also called for more transparency and oversight over the company’s military projects and partnerships.

Microsoft’s leadership, on the other hand, has defended the company’s military role, saying that it is aligned with the company’s mission and values, and that it is a way of supporting the country’s defense and security. They have also argued that Microsoft’s technology can help the military operate more efficiently and ethically, and that the company can influence the military to use its technology responsibly and humanely.

Microsoft’s military role matters because it reflects the changing nature and dynamics of warfare and society in the digital age. As technology becomes more advanced and ubiquitous, it also becomes more powerful and influential, affecting how wars are fought and how societies are governed. Microsoft, as one of the leading technology companies in the world, has a significant stake and impact in this process, and therefore, a significant responsibility and accountability as well

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FAQ:

1. Who founded Microsoft? Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft in 1975.
2. Why did the US military give Bill Gates a call? The US Navy gave Bill Gates a call in the mid-90s to create a bespoke version of Windows NT 4.0 called Windows for warships.
3. Why did Microsoft work with the US military? Microsoft believes that it has a responsibility to help the US military stay at the forefront of technological innovation.
4. What is MS-DOS? MS-DOS stands for Microsoft Disk Operating System, and it is a computer operating system.
5. What is Windows for warships? Windows for warships is a bespoke version of Windows NT 4.0 that serves as the standard operating system on Navy vessels.
6. What are the ethical concerns surrounding Microsoft’s partnership with the US military? Some employees have protested against the company’s involvement in a Pentagon drone program

About Creator

John Coogan is a popular Youtuber, founder and tech optimist. He an entrepreneur for the last decade across multiple companies. He’s done a lot of work in Silicon Valley, so that’s mostly what he talks about. He’s also raised over 10 rounds of venture capital totaling over $100m in funding. He works mostly in tech-enabled consumer packaged goods, meaning he uses software to make the best products possible. His videos are both informative and authoritative.

You can watch the video on Microsoft’s Military Empire Here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlLNMpJSEq8&t=37s

You can get in touch with him via Twitter: https://twitter.com/johncoogan