Turning AI Into Action: Lessons from a Summer at Microsoft
This summer, I interned with Microsoft in Redmond, Washington, as a Business Manager on the HR team that supports engineering groups like CoreAI, Cloud + AI, Microsoft Security, and Microsoft Discovery & Quantum.
When I joined, there had already been initiatives encouraging people to experiment with AI. My role was to take that further — helping the teams move beyond just “playing with AI” to actually embedding it into their daily jobs and operations. To do this, I interviewed employees to learn about their comfort level with AI, identified challenges, and highlighted ways it was already making an impact. I then created a tracker so teams could share projects, learn from each other, and avoid duplicating efforts in such a large company.
I also led a learning session with a live demo, showing how Microsoft’s Power Automate tool (with its AI Copilot feature) could automate routine tasks like client updates. That demo made AI feel more digestible, encouraged the team to start using it in practical ways, and motivated them by showing firsthand how these tools could take work off their plates.
One of the biggest lessons I took away — and something that was emphasized by our leadership is that AI is here to help with those repetitive, time-consuming tasks that can take up so much energy. By taking those off our plates, AI gives us more space to focus on innovation, strategy, and truly understanding the employee experience. It makes HR better, keeps us current, and ensures we’re always seen as an asset to the business.
Overall, the internship gave me an incredible view of how HR and technology intersect. I left with a deeper understanding of how AI will transform the workplace, and I saw firsthand that while many people want to adopt AI, the real value comes when you help them learn how to apply it in ways that make their work easier and more impactful.
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