February 20, 2026
Press X to trust the AI?
Phil Spencer is exiting Microsoft as AI executive takes over Xbox
Xbox gets an AI boss—fans split between hope and 'AI slop' fear
TLDR: Phil Spencer is retiring and AI exec Asha Sharma is now leading Xbox, promising human-made games and “no soulless AI slop.” Comments are split: some hopeful for a reboot, others mock the idea of an AI boss and debate whether Spencer was the problem or a past era was.
Xbox just hit the eject button on an era: Phil Spencer, the face of Xbox for 12 years (and a Microsoft vet for 38), is retiring, and President Sarah Bond is also out. In a twist worthy of a season finale, the new Microsoft Gaming CEO is Asha Sharma—an AI product chief brought in to steer the ship. She’s promising three things: great games, the return of Xbox, and the future of play, plus one viral line: “no soulless AI slop.” Cue the comment section meltdown.
One camp is cautiously optimistic, like a user who said Sharma’s anti-slop stance was “slightly reassuring.” Another camp went full meme mode: “Now it will play video games for me. Great!” joked one, while another snarked, “Next up: Executive AI takes over from AI executive.” The spiciest take? A commenter cheering Microsoft for finally “yeeting the incompetent Phil,” arguing the company never nurtures creatives anyway. That brought out pushback: was Phil really the villain, or was the real disaster the old Xbox One “always online” era under previous leadership? Meanwhile, Matt Booty gets a power-up—promoted to EVP and Chief Content Officer.
So yes, Xbox has an AI boss now, but Sharma’s message is that humans still make the art; AI just helps. The community is torn between a comeback arc and a Black Mirror episode, and the jokes are flying faster than a spedrun any%
Key Points
- •Phil Spencer is retiring from Microsoft after 38 years, including 12 years leading Xbox.
- •Xbox President Sarah Bond is exiting the company.
- •Asha Sharma, president of Microsoft’s CoreAI, is appointed Microsoft Gaming CEO.
- •Asha Sharma outlined commitments: great games, return of Xbox, and future of play, emphasizing human-crafted games and cautious use of AI.
- •Matt Booty is promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, reporting to Sharma.