Tech giant Microsoft has announced the opening of a new AI hub in London, further solidifying its commitment to artificial intelligence research and development in the UK.
The new hub, called Microsoft AI London, will be housed within the company's existing Paddington offices. Led by renowned AI scientist and engineer Jordan Hoffmann, who previously worked at DeepMind and Inflection AI, the hub will focus on cutting-edge advancements in several key areas:
- State-of-the-Art Language Models: Microsoft AI London will work on developing and improving next-generation language models, like the recently launched Copilot.
- Supporting Infrastructure and Tooling: The hub will work on the infrastructure and tools needed to support these language models, ensuring their efficiency and scalability.
- Collaboration is Key: Close collaboration is planned with other Microsoft AI teams and external partners like OpenAI.
This announcement comes just weeks after Microsoft unveiled its new consumer AI division, also headed by Hoffmann's former employer, Inflection AI's Mustafa Suleyman.
The London hub adds to Microsoft's already significant presence in the UK's AI landscape. This includes the well-established Microsoft Research Cambridge lab, known for its research in AI, cloud computing, and productivity tools.
Microsoft's investment in the UK goes beyond its new AI hub. In November 2023, the company pledged £2.5 billion ($3.15 billion) towards expanding its datacenter footprint and training initiatives aimed at developing a skilled workforce for the burgeoning AI economy.
Experts view Microsoft's new AI hub as a strong signal of confidence in the UK's AI talent pool and research ecosystem. The hub is expected to attract top AI talent and contribute significantly to advancements in consumer-focused AI technologies.
