Mustafa Suleyman, the co-founder of DeepMind and a former Google executive, has been hired by Microsoft to lead a new organization called Microsoft AI. Serving as the CEO of Microsoft AI, Suleyman will be reporting to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and joining the company’s senior leadership team. The focus of Microsoft AI will be on advancing Copilot and other consumer AI products and research. Karén Simonyan, the Inflection chief scientist and co-founder, known for leading the development of AI projects such as AlphaZero, AlphaFold, and WaveNet, will also be joining Microsoft along with other members from Inflection.
In an announcement on Twitter, Suleyman expressed his excitement about joining Microsoft and leading all consumer AI products and research, including Copilot, Bing, and Edge. He also mentioned that his longtime collaborator, Karén Simonyan, will be joining as Chief Scientist along with other team members. Nadella stated in a memo that the infusion of new talent from Inflection will enable Microsoft to accelerate its pace in developing AI technology that was once considered impossible. The company aims to ensure that the benefits of AI reach every person and organization on the planet in a safe and responsible manner.
Prior to joining Microsoft, Suleyman was the co-founder and CEO of Inflection AI. With the addition of Suleyman and his team from Inflection, Microsoft is gearing up to compete with other tech giants like Google and Amazon for top AI talent and innovations. DeepMind, the company Suleyman co-founded, was acquired by Google in 2014, where he served as a vice president of artificial intelligence before leaving in January 2022. Microsoft has previously considered creating a new AI organization to accommodate Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, and other key figures from the organization when Altman was temporarily ousted by the prior OpenAI board.
Nadella emphasized in his memo that Microsoft is committed to building technology that pushes the boundaries of what was once thought impossible. With the addition of Suleyman and his team, Microsoft hopes to quicken its pace in developing AI solutions that benefit society and organizations globally. The company’s mission is to ensure that the advantages of AI technology are accessible to everyone while upholding principles of safety and responsibility. By bringing in Suleyman and other talented individuals from Inflection, Microsoft aims to enhance its capabilities in AI research and product development.
Microsoft’s move to appoint Suleyman as CEO of Microsoft AI demonstrates the company’s dedication to staying at the forefront of AI innovation and technology. With Suleyman’s background at DeepMind and Google, along with his leadership at Inflection AI, Microsoft is poised to make significant strides in AI development. The inclusion of Karén Simonyan and other team members from Inflection further strengthens Microsoft’s position in the AI market and sets the stage for transformative advancements in consumer AI products and research. This strategic addition of talent aligns with Microsoft’s goals to democratize AI and create solutions that have a positive impact on society.
