Microsoft’s AI boss Mustafa Suleyman poaches two ace scientists from Google; here's what they specialise in

In the fast-paced world of AI, Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman has wasted no time to up his game in artificial intelligence by recruiting top talent from Google, as per a report.

This week, Suleyman, who is also the co-founder of Google DeepMind, announced he lured three former Googlers to join Microsoft’s new Zurich office, reported Fortune.

A closer look at the new hires

Two of these scientists, Marco Tagliasacchi and Zalán Borsos, are recognized for constructing the “Audio Overviews” feature for Google. This feature, developed within DeepMind, allows text to be converted into a natural-flowing podcast, as per the report. It was part of Google's AI research tool, NotebookLM.


The pair also contributed significantly to Astra, an advanced machine-learning initiative from DeepMind that focuses on AI Agents capable of using video, audio, and text to answer real-time questions. These agents can even autonomously complete tasks on behalf of the user.

Tagliasacchi wrote in a LinkedIn post that “AI continues to be a transformative force, with audio playing a critical role in shaping more natural, intuitive, and immersive interaction.”

Suleyman’s latest hires don’t stop there. He also hired, Matthias Minderer, another former DeepMind research scientist. Minderer, with expertise in vision capabilities, will focus on improving machine learning’s ability to understand images and video, which could play a pivotal role in enhancing AI's ability to process visual data, as per the report.

Building a strong team

In a LinkedIn post, Suleyman shared “It’s a stellar team and will be an important hub for MAI alongside our London office, which is growing fast too!”

According to a Financial Times report, the researchers were a critical piece in reaching Suleyman’s goal of integrating AI agents into Microsoft’s Copilot.

This is not the first time Suleyman has recruited former DeepMind talent. Back in December 2024, he brought Dominic King and Christopher Kelly on board for Microsoft’s AI health division.

FAQs

Who are the new AI experts Suleyman has hired from Google?
Mustafa Suleyman has recruited three former Google scientists: Marco Tagliasacchi, Zalan Borsos, and Matthias Minderer.

Is this the first time Suleyman has poached talent from Google?
No, this isn’t Suleyman’s first time recruiting from DeepMind. He previously hired Dominic King and Christopher Kelly in 2024 to help boost Microsoft’s AI health division.