Xbox wants to grow without AI – Meet the Indian origin CEO swimming against the tide

It was in early 2026 when Microsoft announced changes to its Xbox division, with 37-year-old Asha Sharma taking over the baton from Xbox legend Phil Spencer. Sharma, who previously used to take care of the company’s AI business, is now against the idea of AI in gaming and is dedicated to making Xbox the gamer-friendly platform that it once was.

That’s a bold ambition, considering her professional history. Asha Sharma, a 37-year-old tech executive with zero professional background in video games, stirred up a myriad of controversy upon taking her new position.