14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has recently announced its decision to form a new division called AI and Research Group that would be specifically focused on expanding AI efforts and continuing the company’s investments in new technologies.
Microsoft Research will transition to the new group together with all its engineers, and the new team will be led by Harry Shum, who is currently the Executive Vice President of Technology & Research at the company.
5,000 employees to work on AI and research
Microsoft has said in a press release that the new division will also include the company’s Information Platform Group, Bing and Cortana product groups, plus the Ambient Computing and Robotics teams, and approximately 5,000 engineers will be part of the combined AI efforts.
“AI is shifting the computer science research supply chain and blurring lines between research and product. End-to-end innovation in AI will not come from isolated research labs alone, but from the combination of at-scale production workloads together with deep technology advancements in algorithms, systems and experiences,” Harry Shum explained.
“The new group will provide greater opportunity to accelerate our innovation in AI, and to enable Microsoft to create truly intelligent systems and products for our customers. I believe we have some of the best AI talent on the planet, and we’ll continue to attract even more.”
Shum promised to continue all AI efforts started at Microsoft, explaining that the goal is to empower people and organizations to solve the “most pressing challenges” of the world, and combining several teams will help the company achieve more using all of its products.
Without a doubt, this is an important step towards a more AI-focused approach, and Microsoft clearly shows its commitment to investing in new technologies in a time when more companies expand their efforts in AI too. This is part of CEO Satya Nadella’s transformation of Microsoft, so expect him to praise the new focus of the company in a press release and internal emails very soon.