From The Register: 2024-05-01 11:30:00

Microsoft’s Chief Technology Officer, Kevin Scott, expressed concerns in a 2019 email about a capability gap between Microsoft and competitors like Google and OpenAI, prompting the company to invest heavily in AI technology. The documents shed light on Microsoft’s efforts to keep up with Google in various tech fields.

Scott admitted to initially dismissing the efforts of OpenAI and Google in AI development but later realized Microsoft’s shortcomings in machine learning capabilities compared to its rivals. The company’s subsequent billion-dollar investment in OpenAI and technology licensing indicate a shift towards integrating AI services across its technology stack.

The documents, released as part of an ongoing antitrust trial between Google and the US government, offer a glimpse into Microsoft’s strategic concerns about falling behind in AI development. The disclosure highlights Microsoft’s efforts to compete with Google and enhance its technological infrastructure to catch up with industry leaders like Google in various tech domains.



Read more at The Register: Microsoft’s FOMO after seeing Google AI drove investment in OpenAI • The Register