VIGNETTE
A description of a firm’s approach to an IT management issue, written according to a prescribed template
Working Paper: Vignette
Microsoft’s AI Scaling Journey for Occupancy Prediction
Microsoft scaled out a building occupancy AI model to support a collection of use cases that served both Microsoft and its customers.
Abstract
In 2021, Microsoft was a $168 billion technology company headquartered in Redmond, Washington. The company employed 190,000 people who operated out of more than six hundred office buildings worldwide. This vignette describes how Microsoft used AI techniques to reduce the company’s carbon footprint and optimize facilities investments. Initially, a multidisciplinary AI team developed a machine learning model that informed building occupancy. Over time, the mode was recontextualized for a variety of use cases, including building optimization, dynamic HVAC management, and parking garage optimization, which served Microsoft and its customers. The vignette is part of a series of stories that illustrate value creation using AI.
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About the Authors
Barbara H. Wixom, Principal Research Scientist, MIT Sloan Center for Information Systems Research (CISR)
Ida A. Someh, Lecturer in Business Information Systems, UQ Business School at The University of Queensland, Australia
Ramona M. Ionescu, Ph.D. Candidate – Information Systems, Baylor University
MIT CENTER FOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH (CISR)
Founded in 1974 and grounded in MIT's tradition of combining academic knowledge and practical purpose, MIT CISR helps executives meet the challenge of leading increasingly digital and data-driven organizations. We work directly with digital leaders, executives, and boards to develop our insights. Our consortium forms a global community that comprises more than seventy-five organizations.
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