In a significant move within the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, Microsoft has successfully recruited Amar Subramanya, the former head of engineering for Google's Gemini chatbot, as its Corporate Vice President of AI. This transition is part of Microsoft's broader strategy to enhance its AI capabilities by attracting top talent from competitors, particularly Google's DeepMind division.
Amar Subramanya's tenure at Google spanned 16 years, during which he played a pivotal role in developing and leading the Gemini chatbot project. His expertise in AI and machine learning has been widely recognized, making his move to Microsoft a noteworthy development in the tech industry. In a LinkedIn post announcing his new role, Subramanya expressed enthusiasm about Microsoft's work culture, describing it as "refreshingly low ego yet bursting with ambition." He likened the environment to that of a startup—fast-moving, collaborative, and deeply focused on building innovative, state-of-the-art foundation models to drive AI-powered products like Microsoft Copilot. (linkedin.com)
This hiring is part of a larger trend where Microsoft has been actively recruiting AI professionals from Google's DeepMind. Over the past six months, the company has brought on board at least 24 engineers, researchers, and product specialists from DeepMind. Notable among these hires are Sonal Gupta, Adam Sadovsky, and Tim Frank, who have all assumed leadership roles within Microsoft's AI division. (ft.com)
The aggressive talent acquisition strategy is spearheaded by Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of DeepMind and now Microsoft's head of consumer AI. Suleyman joined Microsoft in 2024 following the company's $650 million "acqui-hire" of his startup, Inflection. Since then, he has been instrumental in building a robust AI team by leveraging his extensive network within the AI community. (ft.com)
This wave of recruitment underscores the intensifying competition among tech giants to secure top AI talent. Companies like Meta and OpenAI have also been offering substantial incentives to attract researchers and engineers from rivals. For instance, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently criticized Meta for offering $100 million sign-on bonuses to lure developers, highlighting the escalating stakes in the AI talent war. (indiatoday.in)
Despite these departures, Google maintains that DeepMind's attrition rates remain below the industry average and asserts that it continues to attract talent from competitors. The company emphasizes its commitment to advancing AI research and development, even as it faces challenges in retaining key personnel. (ft.com)
Microsoft's strategic hiring spree reflects its commitment to leading the AI revolution by assembling a team of top-tier professionals. With leaders like Amar Subramanya and Mustafa Suleyman at the helm, the company is well-positioned to drive innovation and deliver cutting-edge AI-powered products to the market.
Source: News18 Indian-Origin Man Leaves Google After 16 Years, Finds Microsoft ‘Refreshing’
