Microsoft VP: AI Agents Poised to Transform Startups Like the Public Cloud Did

Published: 12 Feb 2026

Redmond, WA – artificial intelligence is poised to dramatically reduce operational costs for startups, potentially reshaping the way new businesses launch and scale, according to Amanda Silver, Microsoft’s corporate vice president of CoreAI.

Speaking about enterprise AI deployments and agentic systems, Silver said that the impact of AI today mirrors the disruption caused by the public cloud years ago. “Just as cloud computing removed barriers like hardware costs and physical infrastructure, AI agents can now handle tasks that used to require dedicated staff, freeing startups to focus on growth,” she said.

AI Agents Streamline Operations

Silver highlighted several ways AI is already changing daily operations for startups and enterprises:

Software maintenance: Agentic systems can monitor code dependencies, automatically updating libraries and frameworks, reducing manual effort by 70 to 80 percent.
Live operations support: AI can diagnose and resolve website or application issues in real-time, limiting the need for human intervention during off-hours.
Workflow automation: Routine processes, such as package returns or customer inquiries, can be largely handled by AI, with humans stepping in only for edge cases.

“These tools allow companies to run more efficiently with smaller teams, potentially increasing valuations while lowering the cost of doing business,” Silver said.

Adoption Challenges for Startups

Despite the promise, widespread AI deployment has not occurred as rapidly as expected. Silver identified the key bottleneck as a lack of clarity around use cases. “Many startups struggle to define the purpose of their agents and the success metrics. Once they identify the problem and provide the right data, the ROI becomes clear,” she explained.

Human oversight remains critical in areas involving legal obligations, high-stakes decision-making, or production code deployments. However, AI’s growing capabilities are reducing the reliance on constant human monitoring.

A Watershed Moment for Entrepreneurship

Silver’s perspective underscores a new era for startups. Just as cloud computing democratized access to enterprise-grade infrastructure, AI agents are lowering operational barriers, enabling more founders to launch ventures with leaner teams and more automated workflows.

Experts suggest that this shift could accelerate innovation, allowing startups to experiment faster, iterate on products, and compete on equal footing with larger organizations that historically had more resources.

“With agentic AI, we’re entering a world where high-efficiency startups can operate with fewer people and greater speed,” Silver said. “It’s an exciting moment for entrepreneurs globally.”

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