Ex-Google exec Suleyman poaches 24 ex-colleagues for Microsoft, mirrors Zuckerberg: Report
In a shocking twist, Mustafa Suleyman, a former Google executive, has poached at least 24 of his ex-colleagues from DeepMind, Google’s artificial intelligence unit, to join Microsoft. This move is seen as a significant blow to Google’s AI capabilities and a major coup for Microsoft.
Suleyman, who was hired by Microsoft in July to lead its AI efforts, has been personally contacting and convincing his former colleagues to join him at his new employer. This approach is reminiscent of Mark Zuckerberg’s recruiting tactics, where he would personally reach out to potential hires to persuade them to join Facebook.
According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Suleyman has been selling Microsoft as a more startup-like workplace compared to DeepMind, where bureaucracy and red tape are often seen as a hindrance to innovation. This pitch seems to be resonating with many of his former colleagues, who are eager to work in a more agile and dynamic environment.
One of the notable poaches is Amar Subramanya, Google’s Indian-origin former Vice President of Engineering. Subramanya is a highly respected figure in the tech industry, and his decision to join Microsoft is seen as a significant loss for Google.
Microsoft’s raid on DeepMind is not the first time the company has targeted Google’s AI talent. In 2019, Microsoft hired several top AI researchers from Google, including former Google AI director, Zoubin Ghahramani.
Suleyman’s recruitment drive is seen as a major coup for Microsoft, which has been trying to catch up with Google and other AI leaders. Microsoft’s AI efforts have been gaining momentum in recent years, with the company investing heavily in AI research and development.
The poaching of Suleyman and his team is also seen as a setback for Google, which has been struggling to maintain its AI dominance. Google’s AI unit, DeepMind, has been facing internal challenges, including concerns about its use of animal data and its handling of sensitive information.
Suleyman’s departure from Google is not without controversy. He was one of the key figures behind DeepMind’s AlphaGo AI, which defeated a human world champion in Go in 2016. However, his departure was reportedly acrimonious, with some sources suggesting that he was forced out of the company.
In a statement, Microsoft said that Suleyman’s hiring was a strategic move to bolster its AI capabilities. “Mustafa is a world-class AI researcher and leader, and we’re thrilled to have him join our team,” the company said. “His expertise and passion for AI will be invaluable in helping us drive innovation and growth in this critical area.”
Google, on the other hand, has declined to comment on the matter.
The poaching of Suleyman and his team is a significant development in the ongoing AI talent war between tech giants. As the competition for AI talent continues to intensify, companies are going to have to get creative in their recruiting efforts to attract the best and brightest minds.
