Microsoft’s “By The Numbers” website updated, details new statistics

Jack Wilkinson

Microsoft - By The Numbers

Microsoft’s By The Numbers website is designed to highlight the company’s top statistics, what sets it apart from the rest and show off its successes. Since its inception, it hasn’t really been kept up to date, but now the company has decided to reinvigorate life into the website, adding a number of new statistics, as well as improving the user experience with new animations (via Neowin).

Let’s dive straight into the statistics enlisted on the website, which Microsoft is proud to show off:

  • With a sound level of -20.6dB, Microsoft’s anechoic chamber holds the Guinness Record for “World’s Quietest Place.”
  • Beyond a small amount of drinking water, Microsoft’s Silicon Valley campus consumes zero water from municipal water supplies.
  • Last year, Microsoft donated over $1.4 billion in software and services, helping nonprofit organizations around the world access essential technology and skills.
  • 1.5 billion Windows-powered PCs are used around the world.
  • Microsoft used a branch of artificial intelligence called reinforcement learning to master the Atari 2600 version of Ms. Pac-Man and get a maximum score of 999,990.
  • Microsoft runs several labs around the world that specialize in the fabrication of quantum devices. Cryogenics are used to keep certain quantum components 200 times colder than the farthest reaches of outer space.
  • Microsoft has made 137 “AI for Earth” grants to individuals and organizations in 47 countries, helping them use artificial intelligence to protect the planet in the areas of agriculture, biodiversity, climate change and water.
  • Microsoft’s Rural Airband Initiative invests in partnerships with telecommunications companies with the goal of bringing broadband connectivity to 2 million unserved people in rural America by 2022.
  • Every day, Microsoft analyzes over 6.5 trillion signals in order to identify emerging threats and protect customers.
  • Since 2012, Microsoft has operated 100 percent carbon neutral around the world.
  • Microsoft’s Seeing AI app, which helps people who are blind or have low vision to better navigate the world around them, has assisted people with more than 10 million tasks.
  • Cortana, Microsoft’s intelligent assistant, has been asked 18 billion questions since launch.
  • 189 million pounds of food, packaging and dining-related items from Microsoft’s Puget Sound campus go somewhere other than a landfill every six months.

There’s a lot of stats to climb through. As you’ve probably noticed, a large number of them are environment-related, such as operating carbon neutral around the world since 2012. There are, however, some product-related stats in there, including that 1.5 billion devices are powered by Windows 10, and that Cortana has been asked 18 billion questions by users around the world.

What are your thoughts on the stats? Let us know in the comments!