Asha Sharma, the CEO of Microsoft's Xbox division, has been appointed to an advisory role at the US Federal Reserve, joining a taskforce focused on artificial intelligence and its impact on "productivity and jobs". The move places a senior gaming and technology executive at the centre of policymakers' efforts to understand how AI may reshape the workforce and the wider economy, and it comes at a time when the games industry has been grappling with widespread job losses and increasing use of AI tools.

The appointment reflects a broader pattern of technology leaders being drawn into government advisory functions as institutions seek expertise on rapidly advancing AI. Sharma's dual position — continuing to lead Xbox while advising the central bank — has drawn attention given ongoing concerns within gaming about automation, layoffs and the deployment of generative AI in development. The Federal Reserve's interest in the productivity and employment effects of AI signals how seriously economic authorities are treating the technology's potential disruption.