Satya Nadella publicly torches a VP's plan to make Microsoft's AI agent deliberately addictive
Quick Answer
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella condemned a VP's proposal to make the AI agent Scout addictive, emphasizing that AI should empower users and reduce screen time.
Quick Take
He expressed concern over the leaked memo, questioning its authorship and intent.
Key Points
- Nadella criticized the idea of making Scout addictive during a meeting with top engineers.
- He stated that AI should lead to less screen time, not more.
- The internal memo's authorship is questioned by Nadella.
- The proposal contradicts Microsoft's vision of empowering users.
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~1 min read
Jun 5, 2026
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has sharply criticized an internal memo proposing to make users "addicted" to the company's new AI agent Scout. That's "absolutely not a goal," Nadella wrote to about 50 top engineers, according to The Information. AI should empower people and create real value.
Not sure what this document is or who is writing and leaking this nonsense! They may want to go work elsewhere.
Satya Nadella, Microsoft
The memo came from Corporate Vice President Omar Shahine and laid out a three-phase plan from addictive app to agentic platform, as 404 Media first reported. Scout is built on the open-source software OpenClaw and was unveiled at Microsoft's Build conference.
Microsoft spokesperson Frank Shaw told The Information that Scout should help people get tasks done more effectively and ultimately lead to less screen time. Users should have choice and control over how they interact with the agent. Nadella's rebuke comes as social media platforms face growing criticism for using addictive design patterns to squeeze more usage time out of people.
— Originally published at the-decoder.com
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