Microsoft hires Ali Farhadi to work with Mustafa Suleyman on AI

March 24, 2026 - 02:18

In a significant move to strengthen its artificial intelligence division, Microsoft has recruited renowned AI researcher Ali Farhadi. Farhadi, the former CEO of the prestigious Allen Institute for AI (AI2), will join the tech giant as a corporate vice president.

He will work directly under Mustafa Suleyman, the co-founder of Google's DeepMind who Microsoft hired in March to lead its newly formed consumer AI unit. This pairing brings together two of the industry's most prominent figures, signaling Microsoft's deep commitment to advancing and integrating AI across its product ecosystem.

Farhadi is celebrated for his work in computer vision and machine learning, having contributed to widely used tools and datasets during his tenure at AI2. His expertise in both fundamental research and practical application is expected to be a major asset. The hiring underscores the intense competition for top AI talent, as major companies race to develop the next generation of intelligent systems.

Microsoft's AI ambitions have been front and center, driven by its multi-billion dollar partnership with OpenAI. Bringing Suleyman and now Farhadi on board demonstrates a clear strategy to build a formidable in-house team capable of innovating across both consumer-facing products and core AI research. The industry will be watching closely to see how this new leadership shapes Microsoft's future AI offerings.