Human Stories, Powered by Technology
Microsoft Unlocked is a platform designed to shift the narrative—featuring authentic human stories that showcases technology’s role in helping people do great things. Our goal was to move beyond traditional corporate storytelling, focusing instead on deeply human-centered narratives that truly resonate.
The concept was both simple and powerful: to tell stories where technology is making a tangible difference in people's lives. From preserving Indigenous languages to detecting wildfires faster than ever, Microsoft Unlocked showcases technology’s transformative impact through the lenses of resilience, creativity, and problem-solving.
We set out to achieve three objectives:
With a focus on premium editorial quality, rich visuals, and clear, accessible language, Microsoft Unlocked showcases the ways that technology is a force for good—not just for enterprises but for communities, individuals, and the world.
The result? A storytelling platform that cuts through the noise, drawing in millions of engaged readers and setting a new standard for how tech companies tell their stories.
Bringing complex concepts to life
Microsoft Unlocked takes an editorial approach—crafting deeply human, visually immersive stories that showcase real-world impact. We highlight the people tackling global challenges with the help of technolog, making complex technology intuitive and emotionally resonant.
Big ideas—like biomimicry, cybersecurity, or cancer screenings—become more tangible when turned into immersive visuals. To tell our stories effectively, we broke complex concepts down into experiences that are not only informative but intuitive and engaging. By balancing raw human portraiture with compelling representations of technology and data, we created narratives that revealed the deep connection between innovation and impact.
A symphony of AI and the Amazon rainforest
The rhythms of the rainforest is an immersive multimedia experience to explore Amazon rainforest conservation. Focusing on bioacoustics—the study of nature's sounds—it highlights how AI and specialized microphones help researchers monitor wildlife and ecological health.
We aimed to educate visitors about the science and power of bioacoustics through a visual and sound-driven narrative, highlighting AI’s role in protecting wildlife. Combining interactive audio, AI-generated artwork, and a science-driven narrative, it showcases innovative conservation strategies to protect the Amazon.
A story of rural hospitals and cybersecurity
Cybersecurity isn’t just a technical challenge—it’s a human one, especially in rural hospitals where IT teams are small, and every second matters in a crisis. To convey the real-world stakes, we produced a rich, photo and video-driven story that followed patients, healthcare workers, and IT professionals navigating cyber threats.
Through intimate interviews and on-the-ground footage, we illustrated how Microsoft partners with rural hospitals to help protect from cyberattacks. The result wasn’t just a tech story—it was a deeply personal journey into the importance of healthcare security.
Advancing early detection in breast cancer screenings
Breast cancer screenings are life-saving, yet traditional methods can miss early warning signs, especially in patients with dense breast tissue. In our feature on Volpara, we explored how AI is revolutionizing early detection by helping radiologists identify risks with greater accuracy.
Instead of a traditional documentary approach, we developed a distinct visual language to bring the story to life. Using custom illustration infographics and data visualizations, we translated complex medical insights into an intuitive, engaging narrative. This approach not only made the science more accessible but also reinforced the profound human impact of earlier, more accurate diagnoses.
Amplifying stories across channels
Through strategic go-to-market materials and channel-right assets, we tailored content to meet people where they are, whether on social media, at Microsoft events, or beyond. This approach helped amplify the voices of incredible people and communities, ensuring their stories not only inspired but engaged and connected across a wide range of platforms.
Microsoft Unlocked goes beyond traditional brand storytelling, using premium editorial techniques to make technology’s positive impact tangible.
Award-winning storytelling that sparks brand love
The stories we’ve developed on Microsoft Unlocked have driven some of the platform’s highest engagement to date, earning industry recognition that celebrates the platform’s usability and the depth and impact of the stories it shares. The response has been overwhelming, with measurable success across engagement, reach, and sentiment.
Sustained engagement and go to market impact
We have seen significant numbers of visitors who engage deeply with our Unlocked stories and content, many of whom are repeat visitors, demonstrating strong retention and repeat engagement. Furthermore, presence on Microsoft owned channels (microsoft.com, Windows in-product placements, Times Square OOH, and more), Microsoft’s top social platforms, and syndication across 120+ markets and in 35+ languages, extends the reach and impact of Unlocked content. Please see the confidential information section for details.
Audience perception shift
Unlocked effectively elevates Microsoft’s mission to empower individuals and organizations to achieve more, demonstrating that technology’s greatest impact lies in the hands of those who use it. Feedback from quantitative research demonstrated that Unlocked stories successfully reshaped perceptions of Microsoft’s role in AI and social impact, while clearly reinforcing the company’s mission to empower people and organizations to achieve more.
