# Asha Sharma

**Type:** Person (executive)
**Current Role:** CEO, Microsoft Gaming (February 2026-present)
**Domain:** Entertainment (gaming), AI

## Background
- Former executive at Instacart and Meta
- Previously led Microsoft Copilot development
- Comes from Microsoft's AI division

## Strategic Position
Sharma's appointment is notable because she is an AI expert making explicit commitments against AI-replacing-human-creativity, not an AI skeptic. Her February 2026 pledge to avoid "soulless AI slop" represents an AI division leader's assessment that AI cannot replace the authenticity and intentionality of human-created games.

## Timeline
- **2026-02-21** — Named CEO of Microsoft Gaming; pledges "We will not chase short-term efficiency or flood our ecosystem with soulless AI slop"