Microsoft has taken a significant step in its AI strategy by hiring Mustafa Suleyman, a renowned leader and entrepreneur in the field of artificial intelligence. Suleyman, known for his work at Google's DeepMind and as co-founder of the AI startup Inflection AI, valued at 4 billion US dollars, will now lead the software giant's efforts regarding consumer AI products. Together with his co-founder at Inflection, Karén Simonyan, Suleyman will head a new organization within Microsoft named Microsoft AI, which will focus on the integration of AI into products like Copilot, as well as on research and other consumer products.

This recruitment is unusual in Silicon Valley and marks a pivotal moment in the tech giants' race for AI dominance. With Suleyman's move to Microsoft and Demis Hassabis, another DeepMind co-founder, at the helm of Google's AI division, two key figures in the AI industry are now in leading and competing roles at these technology behemoths.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Praises Suleyman's Engineering Achievements in the Field of AI and Announces that Several Employees from Inflection Will Join Microsoft to Be Part of This New Division. This Move Signals a Restructuring of Microsoft's AI Strategy, Which Was Previously Spread Across Various Departments. Suleyman Will Now Oversee AI Tools for Consumer Products Such as Bing and Windows, While Other Executives Like Rajesh Jha and Kevin Scott Will Lead Specific Areas Such as Microsoft 365, and AI Research and Partnerships.

This reorientation and the establishment of a new department occur at a time when Microsoft is diversifying its AI investments. After OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was temporarily removed from his position, Nadella personally intervened to reinstate him, underscoring Microsoft's close relationship and dependence on OpenAI. Earlier this year, Microsoft also invested in another AI startup, Mistral AI, confirming Nadella's commitment to the relationship with OpenAI.