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On Fri, 7 Feb, 12:04 AM UTC
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Microsoft's AI boss Mustafa Suleyman poaches two ace scientists from Google; here's what they specialise in
Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman has hired three former Google DeepMind employees to boost AI capabilities in Microsoft's new Zurich office. The new team members, recognized for their expertise in audio and visual AI, aim to enhance Microsoft's Copilot integration and further AI research and development.In the fast-paced world of AI, Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman has wasted no time to up his game in artificial intelligence by recruiting top talent from Google, as per a report. This week, Suleyman, who is also the co-founder of Google DeepMind, announced he lured three former Googlers to join Microsoft's new Zurich office, reported Fortune. Two of these scientists, Marco Tagliasacchi and Zalán Borsos, are recognized for constructing the "Audio Overviews" feature for Google. This feature, developed within DeepMind, allows text to be converted into a natural-flowing podcast, as per the report. It was part of Google's AI research tool, NotebookLM. The pair also contributed significantly to Astra, an advanced machine-learning initiative from DeepMind that focuses on AI Agents capable of using video, audio, and text to answer real-time questions. These agents can even autonomously complete tasks on behalf of the user. Tagliasacchi wrote in a LinkedIn post that "AI continues to be a transformative force, with audio playing a critical role in shaping more natural, intuitive, and immersive interaction." Suleyman's latest hires don't stop there. He also hired, Matthias Minderer, another former DeepMind research scientist. Minderer, with expertise in vision capabilities, will focus on improving machine learning's ability to understand images and video, which could play a pivotal role in enhancing AI's ability to process visual data, as per the report. In a LinkedIn post, Suleyman shared "It's a stellar team and will be an important hub for MAI alongside our London office, which is growing fast too!" According to a Financial Times report, the researchers were a critical piece in reaching Suleyman's goal of integrating AI agents into Microsoft's Copilot. This is not the first time Suleyman has recruited former DeepMind talent. Back in December 2024, he brought Dominic King and Christopher Kelly on board for Microsoft's AI health division. Who are the new AI experts Suleyman has hired from Google? Mustafa Suleyman has recruited three former Google scientists: Marco Tagliasacchi, Zalan Borsos, and Matthias Minderer. Is this the first time Suleyman has poached talent from Google? No, this isn't Suleyman's first time recruiting from DeepMind. He previously hired Dominic King and Christopher Kelly in 2024 to help boost Microsoft's AI health division.
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Microsoft Poaches Top DeepMind AI Talent Behind Google's Podcasting Feature -- Mustafa Suleyman's Zurich AI Lab Expands - Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG), Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL)
Microsoft Corporation MSFT has recruited top talent from Alphabet Inc.'s GOOG GOOGL Google DeepMind. This recruitment is part of an effort led by Mustafa Suleyman to expand Microsoft's AI lab in Zurich. What Happened: Microsoft has onboarded Marco Tagliasacchi and Zalán Borsos. The duo who played key roles in developing the AI podcasting feature "Audio Overviews," announced their move on Tuesday. See Also: Apple Watch Faces Are A Mess -- Series 10's Biggest Feature Is Limited To Just Four Faces, Frustrating Users The company has also hired Matthias Minderer, formerly of DeepMind, to spearhead efforts in artificial intelligence image analysis. The new hires will join Microsoft's AI lab in Zurich, focusing on developing next-generation AI technologies. Subscribe to the Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox. Why It Matters: The recruitment is part of a strategic move by Suleyman, who co-founded DeepMind in 2010, left Google in 2022, and joined Microsoft in March 2024, to improve the company's capabilities in creating advanced AI agents. Last year also, Suleyman recruited Dominic King, former head of DeepMind's health unit, to spearhead Microsoft's AI health team in London. Microsoft's second-quarter revenue reached $69.6 billion surpassing the $68.78 billion analyst consensus estimate. At the time, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said, "Already, our AI business has surpassed an annual revenue run rate of $13 billion, up 175% year-over-year." Price Action: Microsoft's stock gained 0.11% in after-hours trading, settling at $413.73. Earlier on Wednesday, it closed at $413.29, marking a 0.22% increase, according to Benzinga Pro data. Image via Shutterstock Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by following this link. Read Next: Apple's iPad Turns 15 Today: Here's A Throwback To When Steve Jobs Explained Called It The 'Third Category' After Phones And Notebooks Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. GOOGAlphabet Inc$193.40-6.89%Overview Rating:Good62.5%Technicals Analysis1000100Financials Analysis400100WatchlistOverviewGOOGLAlphabet Inc$191.50-7.21%MSFTMicrosoft Corp$413.730.33%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
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Microsoft's AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman recruits three former Google DeepMind scientists to enhance the company's AI capabilities, focusing on audio and visual AI advancements.
In a strategic move to enhance its artificial intelligence capabilities, Microsoft's AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman has recruited three top scientists from Google DeepMind to join the company's expanding Zurich office. This talent acquisition is part of Microsoft's ongoing efforts to strengthen its position in the competitive AI landscape 12.
Marco Tagliasacchi and Zalán Borsos, two of the newly recruited scientists, are renowned for their work on the "Audio Overviews" feature at Google. This innovative tool, developed within DeepMind, converts text into natural-sounding podcasts and was integrated into Google's AI research tool, NotebookLM 1.
The third hire, Matthias Minderer, brings expertise in vision capabilities. His focus will be on improving machine learning's ability to process and understand images and video, a crucial aspect of enhancing AI's visual data processing capabilities 1.
These strategic hires are expected to play a pivotal role in advancing Microsoft's AI agenda:
Copilot Integration: The new team members' expertise aligns with Microsoft's goal of integrating AI agents into its Copilot system, potentially revolutionizing user interactions with AI 1.
Audio and Visual AI Advancements: Tagliasacchi and Borsos's experience with audio AI could lead to significant improvements in Microsoft's audio processing capabilities, while Minderer's visual AI expertise could enhance image and video analysis 12.
AI Agent Development: The team's background in developing advanced AI agents capable of using multiple modalities (video, audio, and text) to answer real-time questions and complete tasks autonomously could significantly boost Microsoft's AI agent capabilities 1.
This is not the first time Suleyman has tapped into his former company's talent pool. In December 2024, he recruited Dominic King and Christopher Kelly to bolster Microsoft's AI health division 12. These moves underscore Microsoft's aggressive strategy to attract top AI talent and maintain its competitive edge in the rapidly evolving AI sector.
The talent acquisition comes at a time when Microsoft's AI business is experiencing significant growth. In its recent financial report, Microsoft revealed that its AI business has surpassed an annual revenue run rate of $13 billion, marking a 175% year-over-year increase 2.
This high-profile talent movement highlights the intense competition among tech giants for AI expertise. As companies like Microsoft and Google vie for supremacy in the AI field, such strategic hires could potentially shift the balance of power and influence the direction of future AI developments.
As the AI landscape continues to evolve, Microsoft's latest moves signal its commitment to remaining at the forefront of innovation, particularly in areas such as audio processing, visual AI, and the development of more sophisticated AI agents.
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Microsoft's AI chief Mustafa Suleyman is leading a significant talent acquisition drive, recruiting key personnel from Google DeepMind to bolster the company's new AI healthcare initiative.
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Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman emphasizes India's importance as a fast-growing market for AI, discusses the potential of AI companions, and outlines Microsoft's plans for AI development in the country.
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Microsoft is developing its own AI models and exploring partnerships with other AI companies, signaling a potential shift in its relationship with OpenAI and a strategy to diversify its AI capabilities.
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Sebastien Bubeck, Microsoft's VP of GenAI research, leaves the company after a decade to join OpenAI, aiming to further his work on developing artificial general intelligence (AGI).
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The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has decided not to investigate Microsoft's acquisition of certain assets from Inflection AI, including the hiring of key employees. This decision comes after a review of the partnership between the two companies.
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