Microsoft Corp Stock Price, News & Analysis

Ben C, a 23-year-old from Brunswick, Ohio, has been crowned the 2024 Candy Crush All Stars Champion, winning $500,000 and a custom championship ring designed by Icebox. The event, hosted by WWE Hall of Famer Brie Garcia, took place in Los Angeles following a two-month-long tournament. The competition saw over 15 million players aiming for a piece of the $1M prize pool. Other finalists included Suzanne S from Stockholm and Verissa T from Atlanta, who took home $250,000 and $100,000, respectively. The tournament, now in its fourth year, began on March 28, 2024, and showcased the dedication and passion of Candy Crush players worldwide.

On June 12, 2024, Microsoft announced that its board of directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.75 per share. This dividend will be payable on September 12, 2024, to shareholders who are recorded by August 15, 2024. The ex-dividend date is also set for August 15, 2024. Microsoft continues its commitment to delivering innovative AI-powered solutions and making AI widely accessible and responsibly used. The announcement underscores Microsoft's ongoing efforts to empower individuals and organizations globally.

On June 10, 2024, Microsoft announced a new cybersecurity initiative aimed at protecting rural hospitals in the United States from rising cyber attacks. The program will support hospitals serving over 60 million rural Americans, providing free and low-cost security solutions, training, and support. In 2023, healthcare sector cyberattacks surged by nearly 130%, significantly affecting rural hospitals' operations and patient care. The initiative includes substantial discounts on Microsoft security products, free cybersecurity assessments, and Windows 10 security updates for one year. Collaborations with The White House, American Hospital Association, and National Rural Health Association will aid the rollout and effectiveness of the program.

Coursera (NYSE: COUR) has partnered with Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) to launch four new entry-level Professional Certificates aimed at preparing learners for high-demand jobs. The new offerings include IT Support Specialist, Cloud Support Associate, Business Analyst, and Project Manager certificates. These programs do not require a college degree or prior work experience and feature generative AI-specific lessons within the Microsoft 365 product suite.

Microsoft will also award more than 5,000 scholarships by 2025 through a partnership with Women in Cloud, providing access to all Microsoft programs on Coursera. The scholarships, valued at $6,000 each, prioritize women and marginalized communities. Successful certificate holders will receive vouchers for Microsoft certification exams. Enrollment is currently open.

ServiceNow and Microsoft announced an expanded strategic alliance at Knowledge 2024, integrating generative AI assistants Now Assist and Microsoft Copilot to enhance employee productivity. This collaboration aims to create a seamless enterprise experience, allowing employees to easily execute common tasks and access help from the most relevant AI assistant. The integration will be generally available in Fall 2024.

Microsoft has announced a $3.3 billion investment in Wisconsin to boost AI innovation and economic growth. The investment includes cloud computing and AI infrastructure, a manufacturing-focused AI co-innovation lab, and an AI skilling initiative. President Joe Biden will join Microsoft for the announcement. The investments aim to create long-term benefits for the state's economy and job market.

Microsoft and LinkedIn released the 2024 Work Trend Index, revealing the increasing adoption of AI at work. The report shows that employees are embracing AI tools, but leaders are struggling to implement a coherent AI strategy. The data indicates a rise in professionals acquiring AI skills independently, with a significant impact on the labor market. The report highlights the emergence of AI power users who are reshaping work processes.

Axel Springer SE and Microsoft Corp. have announced an expanded partnership across advertising, AI, content, and cloud computing, aiming to support independent journalism through cutting-edge innovation. The collaboration will include extending adtech collaboration to the U.S., powering new AI experiences, enhancing content offerings through Microsoft Start-MSN, and expanding the use of Microsoft Azure for digital infrastructure.

Conduent Incorporated collaborates with Microsoft on an innovation initiative to implement generative AI in healthcare claims management, customer service platforms, and fraud detection. The partnership aims to enhance client operating performance and optimize business processes. Through this collaboration, Conduent and Microsoft will explore various use cases across different industries to improve efficiencies and customer experiences. The initiative includes pilots focusing on intelligent data harvesting, fraud detection processing, and customer service agent responsiveness. Conduent's expertise in robotic process automation positions them to guide clients in leveraging generative AI technology.