Thursday, September 29, 2016

Microsoft Creates New 5,000 Strong Artificial Intelligence Research Arm

Microsoft said today that it has created a new, Microsoft AI and Research Group, which will be staffed by more than 5,000 people worldwide. Microsoft said that the new group, which will be led by Harry Shum, will focus on "democratizing AI for every person and organization". Microsoft called Shum--a 20-year Microsoft vet--a "computer vision luminary". The company said the new group will focus on creating agents, such as Cortana; add AI into "every application"; offer up those same services to other applications developers; and build AI infastructure in Azure to enable all those applications.