🧳 The AI arms race is heating up, and it seems that Microsoft is kindling the flames. The Seattle-based tech giant has recruited over 20 employees from Google’s DeepMind division as it attempts to double down on its own AI efforts, signaling the latest proverbial attack in the talent war currently being fought by Silicon Valley’s big players, according to the Financial Times.

Google’s Vice President of Engineering, Amar Subramanya, is Microsoft’s latest high-profile acquisition. Yesterday, Subramanya took to LinkedIn to announce his move to Microsoft as Corporate Vice President of AI. He joins at least 24 former DeepMind staff members persuaded to jump ship from Google over the past six months. Earlier in March, DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman had stepped up as head of Microsoft’s consumer AI strategy. In June, former Senior Director at DeepMind, Adam Sadovsky, also made the switch to Microsoft.

Google can’t keep up — but is claiming otherwise. As many senior executives leave the search giant in the dust, Google is struggling to reshuffle its AI efforts as it attempts to combat rising — yet already formidable — tech players, that have already managed to surpass Google on the AI front. Data shows AI giant OpenAI’s ChatGPT currently boasts at least 600 mn monthly users, with Gemini lagging behind with 400 mn. The Alphabet subsidiary claims its attrition rates are “below industry average,” noting that Google has managed to attract a similar number of researchers from Microsoft.

Microsoft isn’t the only tech giant on a poaching trip. Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta has been treating itself to a hiring spree, going as far as offering signing bonuses of up to USD 100 mn and substantial annual compensation packages to OpenAI employees, according to CEO Sam Altman. Just last week, Meta managed to poach two key Apple AI experts — and their boss.

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