Microsoft Opens New Center For Artificial Intelligence In London

Copilot, Microsoft's artificial intelligence (photo: dock.copilot)

JAKARTA - Microsoft has announced plans to open a new artificial intelligence (AI) hub in London, focused on product development and research. The unit will be led by Mustafa Suleyman, former co-founder of Google DeepMind who was born in London, who was recently recruited by Microsoft last month.

As the main supporter of ChatGPT maker OpenAI, Microsoft is a world leader in this fast-growing technology. However, competition for AI talent has been heating up across Europe over the past 18 months. Microsoft may be looking to recruit experts from other AI-focused companies to fill their new units, such as DeepMind or OpenAI.

This move is also a victory for the United Kingdom, which has sought to strengthen its credentials as a technological force since hosting the world's first global AI meeting in November.

Microsoft recruited Suleyman, the co-founder of DeepMind, to run Microsoft's AI division within the company. Suleyman left his own company, Inflection AI, to join Microsoft, bringing dozens of staff members with him. The move received criticism from several parties, as the staff transfer led Microsoft to avoid regulatory checks that usually occur in traditional acquisitions.

While it's unclear how much work this new hub will make, the announcement reinforces Microsoft's latest commitment to investing 2.5 billion () in data center infrastructure and improving AI skills across the UK.

"I know - through my work close to think leaders in the UK Government, business community and academics - that the country is committed to responsibly advancing AI and with its first commitment to security to drive investment, innovation and economic growth," wrote Suleyman in a company blog post published on Monday. "Our decision to open this center in the UK reflects this ambition."