In a major shakeup in the AI industry, Microsoft has made a significant move to strengthen its AI capabilities by hiring two prominent co-founders of the AI startup Inflection AI. Mustafa Suleyman and Karén Simonyan are joining Microsoft to lead the company’s newly formed consumer AI division called Microsoft AI.
Leadership Appointments:
Mustafa Suleyman, who previously co-founded DeepMind (acquired by Google in 2014), will serve as Executive Vice President and CEO of Microsoft AI, reporting directly to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
Karén Simonyan, a renowned AI researcher and thought leader, is joining as Chief Scientist in the Microsoft AI group.
Several members of the Inflection AI team, including some of the most accomplished AI engineers and researchers, are also making the move to Microsoft.
Key Responsibilities:
Suleyman will lead AI products and research for Microsoft’s Copilot, Bing, and Edge. As part of this transition, Inflection AI is shifting its focus to providing an API for its AI models, hosted on Microsoft Azure and other cloud platforms.
Microsoft’s AI Ambitions:
This high-profile talent acquisition underscores Microsoft’s aggressive push to bolster its AI capabilities and innovate in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. CEO Satya Nadella emphasized the importance of this move, stating that the company is only in the second year of the “AI platform shift” and must ensure it has the “capability and capacity to boldly innovate.”
Background:
Microsoft had previously invested in Inflection AI, leading a $1.3 billion funding round less than a year ago. This move solidifies the company’s commitment to AI and positions it as a major player in the race to develop cutting-edge AI technologies for consumer applications.
By bringing on board the co-founders of Inflection AI, a startup known for its advanced AI models and talented team, Microsoft aims to accelerate its AI efforts and drive innovation in areas such as conversational AI, search, and productivity tools.