Microsoft to Wind Down 'The Garage' Maker Space Program
Microsoft has announced the closure of 'The Garage,' its long-standing maker space program designed to foster employee experimentation and hacker culture. The program, which operated for 17 years across global locations including Redmond, Washington, served as an incubator for successful products such as the Seeing AI app, Mouse Without Borders, and the Xbox Adaptive Controller. While Microsoft states it is transitioning away from a centralized function to integrate experimentation into daily workflows, internal employees have expressed concerns regarding ongoing cutbacks. The closure also signals potential changes to the company's annual employee hackathon event. This move follows previous reductions in employee resources, such as the recent closure of the corporate library in favor of AI-driven learning tools.
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Topics: Employee Culture Innovation Programs Microsoft The Garage