On Tuesday, Microsoft stated that Delta Air Lines was to blame for struggling to recover from a global cyber security outage that canceled over 6,000 flights.
Last month, a software update by global security firm CrowdStrike triggered system errors for the company’s customers, including several airlines. However, the problem subsided at other giant US carriers the following day while persisting at Delta.
According to Microsoft, its preliminary review suggested that the airline, unlike its rivals, failed to modernize its IT infrastructure.
Delta responded that it has invested billions of dollars in IT capital expenses since 2016 and spends billions annually on information technology costs. Meanwhile, Microsoft accused the Atlanta-based carrier of utilizing services from other tech providers for its systems.
Due to the flight disruptions, hundreds of thousands of travelers were stranded, which is expected to cost Delta $500.00 million.
Moreover, the airline is being investigated by the US Transportation Department. It hired a prominent litigator to handle damages from CrowdStrike and Microsoft.
A letter from the Windows maker’s lawyer said the company labeled the airline’s comments as incomplete, misleading, and damaging to the firm and its reputation.
In addition, it mentioned that its software was not the root of the CrowdStrike issue and offered to assist Delta free of charge. Microsoft employees repeatedly lent a hand to the carrier but were turned down.
Bing Search Engine from Microsoft Gains Updates
Microsoft introduced its artificial intelligence (AI)-based results on its Bing search engine for better usability. However, it faces tough competition from industry players as the AI race booms.
The tech giant confirmed that Bing will be retrofitted with generative AI models to provide improved-quality responses for its users.
Additionally, Microsoft noted that the generated information is easy to understand, as it is tailored to pique users’ interest.
Still, only a select number of users can access the AI-generated search, a careful approach before its mainstream launch. This effort aims to avoid risks of disruption to publishers’ revenue.
