Digital
Microsoft appoints Charlie Bell as AI-driven code raises quality concerns
Former security chief to oversee reliability as AI writes up to 30 per cent of code
WASHINGTON: Microsoft has created a new senior role focused on engineering quality and appointed Charlie Bell, its former head of security, to the position, as concerns mount over software reliability in the age of AI-written code.
Bell will serve as engineering quality head and report directly to chief executive Satya Nadella, according to an internal memo published on the company’s blog on February 4. The appointment comes as artificial intelligence takes on a growing share of Microsoft’s software development workload.
Last year, Nadella said AI systems were generating between 20 per cent and 30 per cent of the company’s code. Chief technology officer Kevin Scott has since suggested that AI could be responsible for the majority of code generation by the end of the decade.
The move reflects broader unease across the industry about the quality of AI-generated software. Research has linked AI coding tools to higher levels of code churn, while Microsoft’s own studies have found developers are more likely to overlook bugs when reviewing machine-written code than human-authored work.
The focus on engineering quality also follows a series of reliability issues across Microsoft products. Windows 11 has suffered from several problematic updates in recent months, including security patches that disrupted system booting and shutdown. In response, Microsoft has redeployed engineers from new feature development to stabilisation efforts under an internal initiative known as “swarming”.
Bell joined Microsoft in 2021 after more than 20 years at Amazon and previously led the company’s security organisation. In his new role, he will operate as an individual contributor rather than managing large teams. Nadella said the shift was planned and reflected Bell’s desire to return to hands-on engineering work.
Succeeding Bell, Hayete Gallot has been appointed executive vice president for security. Gallot returns to Microsoft after a stint at Google Cloud and brings more than 15 years of prior experience at the company.
The appointment comes amid mixed results from Microsoft’s wider AI strategy. Adoption of Copilot across Microsoft 365 has remained modest, while the company has faced investor pressure following slower cloud growth and recent share price performance. Microsoft has also scaled back some Copilot integrations in consumer products.
Digital
India launches nationwide AI responsibility pledge drive
MeitY and Intel India aim for Guinness record ahead of AI Impact Summit
NATIONAL: India will roll out a nationwide digital campaign on 16–17 February to promote ethical, inclusive and responsible use of artificial intelligence, as the country builds momentum ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
The initiative, led by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under the IndiaAI Mission, in collaboration with Intel India, will attempt to set a Guinness World Records title for the “most pledges received for an AI responsibility campaign in 24 hours”.
The digital pledge drive will go live at 8 am IST on 16 February, inviting citizens to commit to responsible AI practices through an interactive platform featuring scenario-based questions. Participants who complete the pledge will receive a digital honorary badge jointly issued by IndiaAI and Intel India, along with access to curated, government-led AI learning pathways.
The campaign has been designed for broad accessibility, requiring neither camera nor microphone permissions and imposing no eligibility criteria or assessment thresholds. Participation is open to students, educators, parents, government officials, public sector employees, industry professionals, startups and the wider public, with a particular focus on youth engagement.
Organisers said the initiative aims to deepen awareness around data privacy, accountability, misinformation and ethical deployment of AI technologies, reinforcing India’s push for a human-centric and trustworthy AI ecosystem.
The pledge campaign forms a central citizen-engagement pillar of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled from 16 to 20 February at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The summit will be inaugurated by Narendra Modi and will bring together global leaders, policymakers, industry experts, researchers, startups, academia and civil society to discuss AI-led development under the themes of people, planet and progress.
