In a bold move that intensifies the battle for AI dominance, Microsoft has hired 24 AI experts from Google DeepMind, including several senior engineers and research scientists. At the helm of this talent wave is Amar Subramanya, who joins Microsoft as the new Vice President of Artificial Intelligence.
Strategic Talent Acquisition
This high-profile hiring marks one of Microsoft’s largest AI-focused talent acquisitions to date. Many of these professionals bring deep expertise in machine learning, large language models, reinforcement learning, and AI infrastructure—core areas that are shaping the next generation of intelligent systems.
Several of the new hires previously worked on projects at DeepMind that contributed to Gemini, Google’s latest frontier in foundation models. By bringing them on board, Microsoft not only strengthens its own in-house capabilities but also gains critical insight into its rival’s approach.
Amar Subramanya’s Role
Amar Subramanya is a veteran in the AI space, having spent years at Google and DeepMind working on scalable machine learning and natural language understanding. As the new VP of AI at Microsoft, Subramanya is expected to lead the development of next-gen models that could power Copilot, Azure AI, and other Microsoft services.
His appointment signals Microsoft’s intention to scale its AI innovation internally, perhaps relying less on partners like OpenAI and investing more in proprietary breakthroughs.
AI Arms Race Accelerates
This mass hiring has turned heads across Silicon Valley and beyond. It not only escalates the Copilot vs Gemini rivalry but also highlights the growing trend of AI talent migration. With the market for top AI minds becoming increasingly competitive, companies are going beyond traditional recruiting—offering leadership roles, research freedom, and massive budgets to attract experts.
Microsoft’s recruitment spree sends a strong message: it’s not just playing catch-up—it’s aiming to lead the future of enterprise and consumer AI.
What It Means Going Forward
With this new cohort of DeepMind talent and a seasoned AI leader at the helm, Microsoft is positioned to accelerate innovation in areas such as:
- Multimodal AI systems
- Custom model training for enterprise use
- Real-time AI assistants integrated across platforms
- Responsible AI and safety research
The next phase of AI development is clearly a race powered by people as much as by models—and Microsoft just picked up some of the best minds in the game.
