Microsoft's recent recruitment of Amar Subramanya, a seasoned AI expert from Google's DeepMind, marks a significant milestone in the tech giant's aggressive expansion into artificial intelligence. Subramanya, who led the development of Google's Gemini chatbot, now assumes the role of Corporate Vice President of AI at Microsoft. This strategic move underscores the intensifying competition among tech behemoths to secure top-tier AI talent.
In a LinkedIn post, Subramanya expressed his enthusiasm for his new position, highlighting Microsoft's "refreshingly low ego yet bursting with ambition" culture. He likened the environment to the best aspects of a startup: fast-moving, collaborative, and deeply focused on building innovative foundation models for AI-powered products like Microsoft Copilot.
Subramanya's transition is part of a broader trend, with Microsoft reportedly hiring over 20 AI specialists from Google's DeepMind in recent months. Notable additions include engineering lead Sonal Gupta, software engineer Adam Sadovsky, and product manager Tim Frank. This influx of talent is largely attributed to Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of DeepMind and now head of Microsoft's consumer AI division. Suleyman joined Microsoft in 2024 following the company's $650 million acquisition of his startup, Inflection.
The aggressive recruitment strategies employed by tech giants have led to escalating compensation packages, with reports of sign-on bonuses reaching up to $100 million. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has criticized such practices, referring to them as promoting "mercenary" behavior.
Despite these departures, Google maintains that its attrition rates remain below the industry average and asserts that it continues to attract talent from rival companies.
Subramanya's move to Microsoft highlights the dynamic nature of the AI industry, where top talent is highly sought after, and corporate cultures play a pivotal role in attracting and retaining experts.
Source: The Kashmir Monitor Microsoft Hires Top Google AI Exec, Calls First Week 'Energizing' — The Kashmir Monitor