Microsoft's Azure Growth Slows, Testing Investors' Patience.

Microsoft's Azure cloud-computing service experienced a slowdown in quarterly growth, disappointing investors who were hoping for a return on the company's investments in artificial intelligence (AI) products. Azure's revenue rose by 29% in the fiscal fourth quarter, compared to a 31% increase in the previous period. However, the accelerated contribution from AI indicates positive momentum in the business. Microsoft has been incorporating AI technology from partner OpenAI into its product line, including digital assistants called Copilots. The company has also been investing in data centers to meet the demand for cloud computing and AI services. Despite the slowdown, Microsoft remains optimistic about future growth and plans to capitalize on demand in the second half of fiscal 2025. [Extracted from the article]