How AI boom helped Microsoft keep a window open in China, it left 9 years ago

Microsoft has retreated from China, but the AI boom has helped the company maintain a foothold. In 2010, Google pulled out of China due to concerns over censorship and cyberattacks, but Bill Gates and Microsoft's then-CEO Steve Ballmer did not think it was justified. Since then, Microsoft has shut at least 15 branch offices and joint ventures in China, and is now pursuing a strategy of retreat.

In 2023, the company considered leaving the market entirely as some executives felt the geopolitical risk was too high for too little economic return, though the firm has no current plans to exit.

China accounted for just 1.5% of Microsoft's global revenue in 2024. Tensions between Washington and Beijing, coupled with U.S. restrictions on advanced technology, have hindered Microsoft's ability to scale its AI and cloud businesses in China. Chinese software is increasingly seen as more secure and competitive with Microsoft's Windows and Office, and the government has pushed for its use since 2017. Meanwhile, U.S. tech giants like Apple and Elon Musk's Tesla are also reevaluating their exposure to China.

Despite these challenges, Microsoft has found a niche in the private sector, offering services to firms like ByteDance and Shein, which rely on Microsoft's Azure cloud to manage data in compliance with foreign regulations. The company also provides exclusive access to Western AI models for Chinese enterprise clients. Microsoft's long-standing relationship with the Chinese government, dating back to the early 1990s, has helped maintain access to world-class engineering talent.

While Microsoft's Windows 10 China Government Edition did not gain widespread adoption, the company has cultivated a deep relationship with the government, which is among the deepest of any tech company.