Microsoft 2.5: EVP Pavan Davuluri wants to remake Windows for both human and agent users

Microsoft Executive Vice President of Windows + Devices Pavan Davuluri is steering the Windows operating system towards a future that accommodates both human users and AI agents. Despite initial backlash from calling Windows an 'agentic OS,' Davuluri clarified that Windows will continue to serve human users while integrating agentic workloads.

The Windows organization is developing new platform capabilities, referred to as 'primitives,' to enhance how Windows handles security, identity, governance, observability, and performance for native agents. These foundational changes are expected to impact components like the Windows file system, security model, and PowerShell.

Microsoft is already improving Windows identity and manageability for agents, allowing them to have local or cloud-provisioned identities. The company is also previewing Microsoft Execution Containers to secure agents by running untrusted code in sandboxed environments.

Davuluri outlined four guiding principles for leading the Windows and Surface teams: customer obsession, treating Windows as a full-stack system, focusing on complete user experiences, and building Windows openly with clear communication.

Following his promotion, Davuluri has committed to improving Windows quality and reliability, addressing user feedback on issues ranging from the Insider program to taskbar customization. He is also shifting the focus from specific features to the outcomes Microsoft aims to achieve for diverse groups of Windows users, recognizing that a one-size-fits-all approach is not suitable for over a billion users.