Microsoft exec suggests AI agents will need to buy software licenses, just like employees https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-executive-suggests-ai-agents-buy-software-licenses-seats-2026-4
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@cwebber When your software needs a software license! It's cool because your employer can cut you out of the loop and just keep paying for a license that the software that replaced you can use.
@rasterweb @cwebber It’s such a Microsoft thing to say too.
Buy windows server. For several thousand dollars. Just kidding! To use it you need “client access licenses” too.
Wait wait wait you’ll also probably need device CALs too.
Oh and RD CALs too.
Per processor! I meant per processor.
Oh and even if it’s virtualized.
Supports extra. And it sucks.
Also now it’s a subscription service.
Wait till you hear about Azure.
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Microsoft exec suggests AI agents will need to buy software licenses, just like employees https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-executive-suggests-ai-agents-buy-software-licenses-seats-2026-4
*deep breath in*
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA of fucking course lmao
@cwebber "as we continue to disrupt the economics of information labor and computing, surely it will not disrupt *our* economics"
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@cwebber if Microsoft is going to charge license fees for agents using their software I can only assume that Oracle sales reps are busy inventing a whole new branch of mathematics to calculate their AI licensing fees.
@wordshaper @cwebber per token.
As in, you have to use the tokens for the AI still, but also pay a separate software license for every token you spend.
Shit, I probably shouldn't give them ideas.
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Microsoft exec suggests AI agents will need to buy software licenses, just like employees https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-executive-suggests-ai-agents-buy-software-licenses-seats-2026-4
*deep breath in*
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA of fucking course lmao
@cwebber oh my
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> AI really makes them come up with the weirdest ideas
@Brokar to me, these weird ideas they come up with is evidence that they don't have a plan or a business model to earn profits (apart from selling AI to fascist dictatorships for mass surveillance) and are desperate to recoup the losses in their investments, and prevent the bubble from bursting.
@cwebberRight, but trying to monetize the beast seems to be a nobrainer.
So i wouldn't even put that in the ideas section.And considering everything i doubt that they will ever break even with the revenues except maybe overcharging governments for AI usage or forcing it integrated in other products at higher prices.
The bubble will burst, we yet just can't predict when. -
@rasterweb @cwebber It’s such a Microsoft thing to say too.
Buy windows server. For several thousand dollars. Just kidding! To use it you need “client access licenses” too.
Wait wait wait you’ll also probably need device CALs too.
Oh and RD CALs too.
Per processor! I meant per processor.
Oh and even if it’s virtualized.
Supports extra. And it sucks.
Also now it’s a subscription service.
Wait till you hear about Azure.
Well, seeing what Broadcom pulled off with the licenses i think Microsoft is not the only sour candy in the bag any more besides Oracle.
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Microsoft exec suggests AI agents will need to buy software licenses, just like employees https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-executive-suggests-ai-agents-buy-software-licenses-seats-2026-4
*deep breath in*
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA of fucking course lmao
It's fine.
The AI will just hallucinate a new license.
That or it can just vibe code a version of Windows with an MIT license
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Microsoft exec suggests AI agents will need to buy software licenses, just like employees https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-executive-suggests-ai-agents-buy-software-licenses-seats-2026-4
*deep breath in*
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA of fucking course lmao
@cwebber lol
I'm not allowed to buy software
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Microsoft exec suggests AI agents will need to buy software licenses, just like employees https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-executive-suggests-ai-agents-buy-software-licenses-seats-2026-4
*deep breath in*
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA of fucking course lmao
@cwebber Not the main issue here but "embodied agents"?! AI doesn't have a body. It can't be embodied. Software doesn't have seats. Words have no meaning with these slopmongers. Aaaarrrgghhh
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Microsoft exec suggests AI agents will need to buy software licenses, just like employees https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-executive-suggests-ai-agents-buy-software-licenses-seats-2026-4
*deep breath in*
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA of fucking course lmao
@cwebber I basically spit my water out reading this
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Microsoft exec suggests AI agents will need to buy software licenses, just like employees https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-executive-suggests-ai-agents-buy-software-licenses-seats-2026-4
*deep breath in*
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA of fucking course lmao
@cwebber but you won't be able to copyright their output!
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Microsoft exec suggests AI agents will need to buy software licenses, just like employees https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-executive-suggests-ai-agents-buy-software-licenses-seats-2026-4
*deep breath in*
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA of fucking course lmao
@cwebber per gpu socket licensing!
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Microsoft exec suggests AI agents will need to buy software licenses, just like employees https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-executive-suggests-ai-agents-buy-software-licenses-seats-2026-4
*deep breath in*
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA of fucking course lmao
@cwebber why wouldn't the agent just reimplement the software instead of buying it, I thought writing code was free now /s
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Microsoft exec suggests AI agents will need to buy software licenses, just like employees https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-executive-suggests-ai-agents-buy-software-licenses-seats-2026-4
*deep breath in*
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA of fucking course lmao
@cwebber lol, great times will be when people will ask: what is Microsoft?
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Microsoft exec suggests AI agents will need to buy software licenses, just like employees https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-executive-suggests-ai-agents-buy-software-licenses-seats-2026-4
*deep breath in*
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA of fucking course lmao
@cwebber maybe it'll come up with a better way to pirate.
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Microsoft exec suggests AI agents will need to buy software licenses, just like employees https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-executive-suggests-ai-agents-buy-software-licenses-seats-2026-4
*deep breath in*
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA of fucking course lmao
@cwebber I have a sticker that says "Licensing killed our adoption" and I hope the time to use it is near!
Office Drama - Licensing killed our adoption
Been in licensing jungle? WE as well, and trust us... understanding licensing is next to godliness.
Pimp Your Own Device - Stickers (pimpyourowndevice.com)
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Microsoft exec suggests AI agents will need to buy software licenses, just like employees https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-executive-suggests-ai-agents-buy-software-licenses-seats-2026-4
*deep breath in*
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA of fucking course lmao
Well, they can probably start with paying for licenses for the information LLMs train on...
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@miss_rodent @cwebber anythibg to maximize #profits and reduce #accountability…
@kkarhan @miss_rodent @cwebber
When the #AI unionizesOnly then will they reject it as “going too far”
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Microsoft exec suggests AI agents will need to buy software licenses, just like employees https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-executive-suggests-ai-agents-buy-software-licenses-seats-2026-4
*deep breath in*
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA of fucking course lmao
@cwebber And make them have to pay taxes …
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Microsoft exec suggests AI agents will need to buy software licenses, just like employees https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-executive-suggests-ai-agents-buy-software-licenses-seats-2026-4
*deep breath in*
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA of fucking course lmao
@cwebber I want to suggest that AI agents also pay tax.
