Before joining Directions on Microsoft in 2020, Barry worked at Microsoft for 12 years in a variety of roles, including as Chief Technology Officer for Microsoft’s own IT organization for 5 years. Prior to Microsoft, Barry spent several years as CTO for several successful startups, and before that, 11 years at Lotus Development, where he was the lead developer for Lotus 1-2-3, the best-selling application of its time, and a Lotus Fellow.
Barry holds a B.A. and an M.A. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Latest Content by Barry Briggs
Blog
June 27, 2025 · by Barry Briggs
CIO Talk: What Is AGI and Why Should You Care?
What Is AGI and Why Should You Care? Directions analyst Barry Briggs explains one of the key technologies at the...
Webinar
June 19, 2025 · by Barry Briggs
Microsoft’s AI-Native Applications Strategy
Microsoft thinks that everything we know about application architecture will change as AI permeates every layer of the stack. What...
Analyst Report
Updated: May 6, 2025 · by Barry Briggs
Executive Focus: Introduction to Data Governance in the Age of AI
This Executive Focus provides an overview of data governance including what it is, the key issues, and how Purview helps...
Video
Updated: May 2, 2025 · by Multiple Authors
Directions Podcast. Season 4. Episode 7. Microsoft: A Look Back From Inside.
This year marks Microsoft's 50th anniversary and several of the Directions analysts were part of the company's history. Barry Briggs,...
Analyst Report
Updated: April 8, 2025 · by Barry Briggs
Executive Focus: Microsoft’s AI Strategy
An executive overview of Microsoft's AI strategy, plans, and investments.
Charts & Illustrations
Updated: March 18, 2025 · by Barry Briggs
Understanding Tokens and Context Windows
Illustration shows tokens and context windows in a generative AI application.
Analyst Report
Updated: March 18, 2025 · by Barry Briggs
Azure OpenAI: Are Premium Models Worth the Price?
Azure OpenAI packages AI models from OpenAI; however, they may be more expensive than open source models.