In a move signalling Microsoft’s aggressive push into artificial intelligence, British AI innovator Mustafa Suleyman is appointed to spearhead the company’s AI division, aiming to lead the industry with pioneering products and responsible development.
Mustafa Suleyman, a 39-year-old British AI pioneer best known for co-founding DeepMind and later Inflection AI, has been appointed as the head of Microsoft’s AI division. This move underscores Microsoft’s aggressive push into AI, leveraging Suleyman’s deep expertise to navigate the technology’s rapid advancement and its associated risks. Suleyman, who played a key role in the development of AI projects such as AlphaGo and AlphaFold, will focus on leading consumer AI products and research efforts at Microsoft, including Copilot, Bing, and the Edge browser.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella welcomed Suleyman and his team to the company, highlighting the potential to create groundbreaking technology in line with Microsoft’s mission to responsibly bring AI benefits to all. Suleyman expressed his enthusiasm for the role on social media, emphasizing the significance of making Inflection AI’s API widely accessible to developers and businesses.
Suleyman’s appointment comes at a time when Microsoft is deepening its investments in AI through partnerships, notably with OpenAI and the development of the ChatGPT chatbot. It also reflects the increasing global demand for British AI expertise, as Suleyman’s hiring by Microsoft indicates a positive shift in the UK’s AI talent market.
With his track record of innovation and caution about AI’s future, Suleyman’s leadership at Microsoft is poised to impact the industry significantly. He envisages AI’s potential to revolutionize medical fields, clean energy, and quality of life, while also acknowledging challenges like cybersecurity and geopolitical tensions. As the head of Microsoft AI, Suleyman aims to balance these innovation aspirations with the ethical and safety considerations paramount in AI development.
