Microsoft appoints former AI2 CEO to lead role under Mustafa Suleyman

Microsoft has appointed Ali Farhadi, the former CEO of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI2), to a senior leadership position as it strengthens its AI efforts.

Farhadi has joined the company as a corporate vice president and will report to Mustafa Suleyman, who is leading Microsoft’s in-house AI initiatives. 

His hiring comes shortly after stepping down from AI2, where he focused on advancing open and accessible AI research.

Before his tenure at AI2, Farhadi co-founded Xnor.ai, a company specializing in on-device artificial intelligence. The startup was acquired by Apple for approximately $200 million.

Suleyman, who joined Microsoft to spearhead its AI strategy, has been building a dedicated team to develop advanced “frontier” AI models using the company’s own data and computing infrastructure. 

The broader goal is to reduce reliance on external partners and position Microsoft as a leader in next-generation AI systems.

In a recent internal update, Microsoft emphasised that Suleyman will focus heavily on “superintelligence” initiatives, aiming to deliver cutting-edge AI models over the coming years.

Farhadi’s appointment signals Microsoft’s continued push to attract top AI talent as competition intensifies among major tech firms racing to develop more powerful and independent AI capabilities.