Key Takeaways:
Microsoft has unveiled plans to open a new artificial intelligence hub in the UK. The new facility, which will be based at the tech giant’s offices in Paddington, London will hire scientists and engineers to work on developing large language models (LLMs) and their supporting infrastructure, as well as create tools for foundation models.
Microsoft Announces UK AI Center that Will Work on Developing LLMs and Foundation Models
The move comes as part of Microsoft’s plans to bring 20,000 of the most advanced graphic processors (GPUs) to the country by 2026. It also puts the Seattle-based company among a growing list of large AI firms that have set up units in the British capital amid an explosion of interest in the technology from investors and consumers.
Last year, OpenAI – the creators of ChatGPT – opened its first office outside of the US in London. Meanwhile, AI firm C3.ai relocated its European headquarters from Paris to London, and American drug discovery business Recursion set up its AI unit in the city.
Google Deepmind Co-Founder Mustafa Suleyman Named Microsoft’s New AI CEO
Microsoft recently announced the creation of Microsoft AI, a new unit within the company that is focused on AI research and development. Mustafa Suleyman, a British tech entrepreneur and co-founder of AI firm Deepmind – now owned by Google – and Infection AI, will be the company’s new artificial intelligence CEO. The AI hub will be run by Jordan Hoffman, an engineer who worked closely with Suleyman at his former companies.
In an April 8th blog post, Microsoft’s new AI CEO said there is an “enormous pool” of AI talent in the UK and the company is making significant, long-term investments in the region to hire the best AI scientists and engineers.
He added that the hub will create more industry-specific jobs, with Microsoft actively working to hire “exceptional individuals” who want to “work on the most interesting and challenging AI questions of our time”.
Suleyman highlighted the UK’s commitment to advancing AI responsibly and with a safety-first commitment to “drive investment, innovation, and economic growth”.
Microsoft will be posting job openings and actively hiring in the coming weeks and months for the AI hub within its London Paddington office. Suleyman joined the company to head its consumer AI unit in March. Additionally, Microsoft has hired most of the staff at Inflection AI.
Microsoft to Invest $3 Billion in the UK as Part of the Company’s AI Plans
The formation of the AI center further expands Microsoft’s presence in the UK, which also includes the Microsoft Research Lab in Cambridge, and its promise to invest over $3 billion in the country as part of its AI plans. In January, British telecom giant Vodafone signed a $1.5 billion deal with the company over AI and cloud services.
On April 1, the United States and the United Kingdom inked a deal pledging to work together on safe AI development, with AI safety institutes in both countries collaborating on testing the most advanced models. The two governments also agreed on forging similar partnerships with other nations to foster AI safety around the world and to conduct at least one joint test on a publicly accessible model.
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