Microsoft is planning significant changes to its Outlook email client, aiming to develop it for an era dominated by artificial intelligence (AI). Reports indicate that the company has reorganized its Outlook team under new leadership, focusing on building a modern email client rather than merely incorporating AI into existing structures. Gaurav Sareen, the corporate vice president in charge of global experiences and platform, is now leading the team after taking over from Lynn Ayres, who is on sabbatical.
Sareen’s vision includes transforming Outlook into a more personalized assistant capable of significantly enhancing user productivity. He described Outlook as a “body double” that can alleviate the feeling of being overwhelmed by work, suggesting an AI integration that would involve drafting replies, managing time, and organizing messages for users.
To achieve this transformation, the Outlook team plans to implement rapid development cycles, with a push toward weekly feature experiments rather than quarterly updates. Sareen envisions a future where AI is not just an addition to Outlook but fundamentally influences how the product is designed and built.
This initiative is part of larger organizational shifts within Microsoft, particularly focusing on AI across its various teams, including Office and other Microsoft 365 applications. The transition will face challenges, especially in managing the existing user base reliant on traditional Outlook features, as many executives depend on the calendar and other functionalities that must remain reliable.
Critics within Microsoft have raised questions about the viability of quickly integrating unproven AI features into a tool as vital as Outlook. Sareen’s leadership aims to instill a culture of innovation and comfort with risk among team members in this rapidly evolving landscape. The effectiveness of these upcoming changes remains to be seen, particularly in a market where Microsoft faces competition from other AI developments.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/tech/806162/microsoft-outlook-ai-overhaul-notepad