Microsoft Corporation has appointed Mustafa Suleyman to lead its consumer artificial intelligence (AI) division, a strategic move aimed at bolstering its position against Alphabet Inc.'s Google in the fiercely competitive AI market, the media has reported. Suleyman, a co-founder of Google's DeepMind, will assume the role reporting directly to CEO Satya Nadella, says a report by news agency Bloomberg.
In this capacity, Suleyman will supervise various initiatives, including the integration of an AI Copilot into Windows and the incorporation of conversational features into the Bing search engine. Notably, Suleyman's recruitment consolidates Microsoft's consumer AI endeavours under a unified leadership for the first time, signifying the company's commitment to advancing in this pivotal technological domain. Additionally, Microsoft has absorbed most of the personnel from Suleyman's Inflection AI startup, underscoring its dedication to assembling top talent in pursuit of AI innovation.
In a bid to bolster its AI capabilities and compete head-on with Google, Nadella has successfully recruited Suleyman, a prominent figure in the AI industry, to lead its AI business. Suleyman, renowned not only for his role as a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School but also as a member of the steering committee of the World Economic Forum’s AI Governance Alliance, brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the table. His multifaceted background underscores Microsoft's commitment to harnessing top talent and engaging in high-level collaborations to drive innovation and shape the future of AI technology.
Here are the top five things to know about Microsoft AI's new CEO Suleyman.
Mustafa Suleyman, born in 1984 in London, hails from a humble background. His father, a Syrian taxi driver, and his mother, an English nurse, raised him in a financially modest household. Despite facing relative poverty during his upbringing, Suleyman's background reflects the resilience and determination that have shaped his journey to prominence in the field of artificial intelligence.
In 2010, Suleyman co-founded his initial AI venture, DeepMind, which Google acquired in 2014. Following the acquisition, Suleyman assumed roles as VP of AI Products and AI Policy at Google. Presently, Google DeepMind has developed its proprietary generative AI model known as Gemini.
Among his notable achievements, Suleyman spearheaded the utilisation of DeepMind's machine learning (ML) algorithms to achieve a remarkable 40 percent reduction in energy consumption within Google's data centers. His innovative approach involved analyzing billions of potential combinations to devise a unique solution for cooling these energy-intensive facilities, demonstrating his ability to tackle complex challenges with creativity and precision.
Time Magazine recognised Suleyman as one of the top 100 influential figures in the field of AI in 2023.
Suleyman's dedication to social causes has persisted, as evidenced by his involvement in conflict resolution and addressing social issues through roles at organisations such as the United Nations (UN), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the Dutch government.