Microsoft Enhances AI Supercomputing Team with Former Meta Executive

  • Former Meta VP, Jason Taylor, joins Microsoft’s AI supercomputing team as Corporate Vice President and Deputy CTO.
  • Taylor brings extensive experience in AI, data, and privacy infrastructure from his tenure at Meta.
  • He previously chaired the Open Compute Project Foundation, showcasing his dedication to advancing open-source designs in data centers.
  • Microsoft and OpenAI aim to strengthen their hardware capabilities amid the rapid evolution of AI technologies.
  • Rumors of a $100 billion supercomputer project, “Stargate,” to power next-gen AI models, are addressed by Microsoft’s CTO, Kevin Scott.
  • Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of Google DeepMind, was appointed as CEO of Microsoft’s new consumer AI division, overseeing Copilot, Bing, and Edge.

Main AI News:

Former Meta executive Jason Taylor is set to join Microsoft’s AI supercomputing division, a move aimed at bolstering the tech giant’s efforts in advancing artificial intelligence. In a recent announcement, Microsoft’s Chief Technology Officer, Kevin Scott, revealed that Taylor would assume the role of Corporate Vice President and Deputy CTO, focusing on driving innovation in AI infrastructure.

During his tenure at Meta from 2009 to 2022, Taylor played a pivotal role as the company’s Vice President of Infrastructure, spearheading initiatives in AI, data, and privacy infrastructure. Notably, he also led the management of Meta’s server budgets. Additionally, Taylor chaired the Open Compute Project Foundation from 2015 to 2017, emphasizing his commitment to advancing open-source designs within data centers.

This strategic hiring comes as both Microsoft and OpenAI seek to enhance their hardware capabilities to keep pace with the rapid evolution of AI technologies. Reports have surfaced indicating a joint effort between Microsoft and OpenAI to develop a groundbreaking $100 billion supercomputer, dubbed “Stargate,” to power next-generation AI models. However, Scott downplayed these rumors in a recent LinkedIn post, suggesting that much of the speculation is inaccurate.

In a separate announcement earlier this year, Microsoft unveiled the appointment of Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of Google DeepMind, as the CEO of a newly established consumer AI division. Suleyman’s leadership will oversee key products such as Copilot, Bing, and Edge, further underscoring Microsoft’s commitment to driving AI innovation across various sectors.

Conclusion:

Microsoft’s strategic hiring of Jason Taylor and the appointment of Mustafa Suleyman signal a concerted effort to bolster its AI capabilities. This move underscores Microsoft’s commitment to innovation in AI infrastructure and consumer-facing AI products, positioning the company for greater competitiveness in the evolving AI market.

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