Microsoft and Google have always been in the limelight of the AI race and there is a strategic move to significantly influence the landscape of artificial intelligence. Recently Microsoft announced the appointment of Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of the AI DeepMind, as CEO of its newly minted AI division.
This high-profile entry of Suleyman marks a pivotal moment in the tech giant’s ambitious AI-driven accomplishments, highlighting its commitment to leading the charge in the rapidly evolving field of AI.
Suleyman’s journey from DeepMind to Microsoft reads like a narrative of AI’s rise in the tech industry. He co-founded DeepMind in 2010, a visionary in the AI space, which quickly emerged in AI research. The achievement of DeepMind by Google in 2014 further paved its status at the forefront of AI development. But, Suleyman’s trajectory took a new direction when he said goodbye to Google in 2022, after having directed various roles, including a shift overseeing AI policy and product management.
Suleyman, who had earlier served as the head of applied AI at DeepMind, shared the news on his X handle.
“I’ll be leading all consumer AI products and research including – Copilot, Bing, and Edge. My friend and longtime collaborator Karen Simonyan will be Chief Scientist, and several of our amazing teammates have chosen to join us”
Suleyman Sudden Exile From Google:
Suleyman sudden exit from Google led him to co-found Inflection AI, a startup that has been among the most luminous names in the field of generative AI including the co-founder Karen Simonyan, who will serve as the Chief scientist of the consumer AI group. Kevin Scott will remain as Microsoft’s Chief technology officer and executive vice president of AI. Bringing in these skilled people will help improve other Microsoft AI products like Copilot, Bing, and Edge, making them better with more AI integration.
The latest outbreak of the Microsoft AI division under Suleyman’s leadership signifies more than just an organizational expansion.
I have known Mustafa for several years and have greatly admired him as a founder of both DeepMind and Inflection and as a visionary, product maker, and builder of pioneering teams that go after bold missions
Nadella says in a memo to employees published by Microsoft.
We have a real shot to build technology that was once thought impossible and that is up to our mission to ensure that benefits of AI reach every person and organization on the planet, safely and responsibly.
Microsoft has already invested billions into its partnership with OpenAI and recently struck a deal with AI startup Mistral. However, this new formation of the AI team does not mean Microsoft has left behind these previous partnerships. Microsoft founders say:
It will continue to build AI infrastructure inclusive of custom systems and silicon work in support of OpenAI’s foundation model roadmap.
As Microsoft prepares to disclose more details about its AI strategy in the upcoming special AI event and its Build conference, the tech community is buzzing with anticipation. The integration of AI into Microsoft’s Office products, Windows 11, and Edge browser has already showcased the company’s ability to embed AI seamlessly into the user experience. With Mustafa Suleyman at the leadership of its AI division, Microsoft is set to reinforce its position as a leader in the race to shape the future of AI.