Microsoft isn't planning to develop its own self-driving car, instead the company is currently in talks with 7 to 8 car manufacturers to supply technology for autonomous or assisted driving. Microsoft seems to be one of the last tech giants to state something about the development of self-driving cars.
(Will your car ever show the infamous BSOD?)
It seems to be one of the few that isn't planning to develop its own, unlike other technology giants. For example, Google is known to be developing a self-driving car, while Apple is rumored to be developing one too. Also Uber, Tesla and several other car manufacturers are working on technology to make autonomous driving possible.
Microsoft is more interested in supplying technology to car manufacturers. The company hopes to make its cloud service Azure or its Windows operating system suitable for autonomous cars, if car manufacturers are interested, according to Microsoft's Peggy Johnson during the Converge conference in Hong Kong, the Wall Street Journal reports.
It seems they are, as Johnson has stated that Microsoft is currently in talks with 7 or 8 car manufacturers to see what the company is able to offer them.
"Auto makers generally will come to us with a specific focus.Some want to help increase productivity in cars, for example", Johnson said. "Can that be part of your new office, can it be your new desk, a place where you actually get work done? We believe it can. Each of them had a little something different that they wanted," she added, which might imply it sees a future for users running Microsoft Office in their car.
