Ex-Google AI chief Mustafa Suleyman leading Microsoft's new AI model, it will compete with Google and OpenAI

When it comes to AI (artificial intelligence), Microsoft is one of the frontrunners in the race. Be it investing billions of dollars in ChatGPT parent OpenAI or rolling out new AI-enabled features across its devices, the company has often made headlines for its AI-related endeavours. And now, it is being reported that the tech giant is working on a new AI model to compete with Google, Anthropic and OpenAI. The development of the new AI model, called MAI-1, is being spearheaded by ex-Google AI chief Mustafa Suleyman.

According to a report in The Information, Microsoft has launched an ambitious project to develop a new artificial intelligence model dubbed MAI-1. The development of the new model is under the guidance of Mustafa Suleyman, a prominent figure in AI who previously spearheaded Google's AI initiatives and was the CEO of AI startup Inflection.

MAI-1 is expected to be a powerhouse in the AI field, boasting around 500 billion parameters which determine the learning capabilities during the AI training phase. This places it significantly above many existing models but still behind OpenAI’s colossal GPT-4, which features over 1 trillion parameters. The development of MAI-1 represents a significant escalation in Microsoft's commitment to AI, positioning it to compete robustly with leading models from Google, Anthropic, and OpenAI.

Earlier this year, Microsoft acquired the majority of Inflection's team and its intellectual property for USD 650 million. The introduction of MAI-1, however, signifies a distinct venture, independent of the technologies developed at Inflection, though it may leverage some of the acquired training data and technologies.

Talking about Mustafa Suleyman, he was one of the co-founders of Google's DeepMind, and was locked in as the new Microsoft AI CEO in March this year. Suleyman had announced the same on his social media handles, expressing excitement over the venture. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also welcomed Suleyman to the team, saying that he is "thrilled" to have the former Google executive onboard.

In 2010, Suleyman co-founded DeepMind, an AI startup aimed at pushing the boundaries of machine learning and artificial intelligence. Following Google's acquisition of DeepMind in 2014, Suleyman assumed the role of VP of AI Products and AI Policy, driving innovation and ethical considerations in AI development.

In 2022, Suleyman embarked on a new entrepreneurial journey, co-founding Inflection AI with LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. Inflection AI quickly gained traction, raising significant funding and garnering support from industry giants like Microsoft and NVIDIA.