What if you bought Microsoft the day Copilot made it an AI leader?
This uses real data to show what would have happened if you had invested a lump sum in Microsoft (MSFT) on March 16, 2023 — the day it unveiled 'Copilot,' generative AI built into Office — and held until now. As a single stock, be mindful of survivorship bias and volatility.
⚠️ Know the risk first
A heavily hyped announcement day can be a moment when expectations are already substantially priced in, and there were drawdown stretches after entry depending on market conditions. The final return only holds if you held through them.
⚠️ This asset is an individual stock chosen as of today, so past returns can look better than they really were (survivorship bias).
What happened that day
On March 16, 2023, Microsoft unveiled 'Microsoft 365 Copilot,' combining generative AI with Word, Excel, Teams, and more. Following its OpenAI investment, this announcement propelled Microsoft into a leading big-tech beneficiary of generative AI, productizing the ChatGPT boom.
Why this date
The buy date is the symbolic announcement day that productized the AI boom, computing 'what if you bought the day it was re-rated as a leading generative-AI beneficiary.'
Investment conditions
Asset · Microsoft (MSFT) · lump-sum on the 2023 Copilot reveal day, then held long-term
Method · Lump-sum (all at once)
Period · 2023-03-16 ~ 2026-07-01
Amount · $7,407
As of · 2026-07-01
Key metrics
These results do not reflect taxes. Based on historical data.
Buy and final prices are shown in the asset's local currency (US & crypto $, Japan ¥, Korea ₩). Total invested and final value are in Korean won (₩).
Risk & recovery
As important as returns. This service does not hide maximum drawdown or loss periods.
Maximum drawdown (MDD)
-34.5%
Largest drop from peak
Longest loss period
0months
Months in loss: 0
Recovery period
0months
Growth over time
Invested principal (dashed) and portfolio value (solid). Values below match the calculation.
Total invested $7,407 → Final value $10,573 (+42.7%), Maximum drawdown (MDD) -34.5%
Why this period and asset
March 16, 2023 is the day Microsoft unveiled 'Microsoft 365 Copilot,' combining generative AI with Word, Excel, Teams, and more. Following its large investment in OpenAI (ChatGPT), this announcement propelled Microsoft into a leading big-tech beneficiary of generative AI, turning the ChatGPT boom into an actual product. By this point the AI boom was already fairly well known, so this is closer to 'what if you bought a large blue-chip once the hype had matured.'
Interpreting the result
If you bought on this announcement day and held without selling, you can see the final value in the metrics below. But even for a blue-chip like Microsoft, the result depends on the entry point and the path afterward, and entering after the hype matured may be a moment when 'expectations are already substantially priced in.' Alongside the return versus total invested, be sure to check the drawdown stretches (maximum drawdown). Investing gradually each month instead of all at once would have spread out the entry-timing risk.
Caveats & limits
Buying on a hyped announcement day may be a moment when 'expectations' were priced in. The actual result is exactly as the metrics show; always review the maximum drawdown and loss periods. As a single stock, be mindful of survivorship bias — looking like an AI beneficiary now is separate from the future. Figures use adjusted close and exclude exchange rates, fees, and taxes, and past results do not guarantee the future.
Event fact sources
- Microsoft Official Blog — Introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot (2023-03-16)
- Forbes — Microsoft Introduces AI Copilot for Microsoft 365 (2023-03-16)
Requested date vs actual trading date
If the event date is a holiday, the fill uses the next trading day's close. The 'effective trading date' below is the date actually used.
Data sources & limits
- Price data source: Yahoo Finance / FinanceDataReader
- Collected on: 2026-07-28
- Effective trading date: 2026-07-01
- Price basis: Adjusted close (reflects dividends and stock splits)
- This asset is an individual stock chosen as of today, so past returns can look better than they really were (survivorship bias).
- Trading fees and taxes are not reflected — figures are pre-tax.
- Based on historical data; does not guarantee future returns.
Frequently asked questions
Why use March 16, 2023 as the buy date?
That is the day Microsoft officially unveiled '365 Copilot,' embedding generative AI into its Office suite. It best captures 'what if you bought in time for the symbolic announcement that productized the AI boom.'
Is buying on an announcement day always advantageous?
No. A heavily hyped announcement day can be a moment when expectations are already substantially priced in. Good news does not automatically mean a good buy point. Confirm the actual result in the metrics below, and review the drawdown stretches too.
Were there loss periods along the way?
There were drawdown stretches after entry depending on market conditions. See the actual path in the maximum drawdown and loss-period metrics below. The final return only holds if you held through them without selling.
Are FX and taxes reflected?
No. Exchange rates, trading fees, and taxes are not reflected — figures are pre-tax. This page only shows historical data and recommends no specific stock.
Related scenarios
📋 Results are based on historical data; past returns do not guarantee future returns.
📋 This service is provided for educational purposes to help you understand investing, not as investment advice.
⚠️ Calculated using today's representative assets, which may differ from the market composition at the time.