Microsoft’s AI Head Mustafa Suleyman Assembles Consumer Health Team with DeepMind Alumni

Other former DeepMind colleagues have joined the team, reflecting Suleyman’s strategy to leverage expertise from his past ventures to advance Microsoft’s AI ambitions in health.

Microsoft’s artificial intelligence chief, Mustafa Suleyman, is spearheading a new consumer-focused health division as the company aims to capitalize on the growing potential of generative AI in healthcare.

Suleyman, a co-founder of DeepMind and an influential figure in AI development has recruited former colleagues from his previous work at DeepMind to form the core of this initiative.

Dominic King, the former head of DeepMind’s health unit and a UK-trained surgeon, has joined Microsoft as vice president of its new AI health division based in London, , as reported by FT.

Christopher Kelly, a clinical research scientist from DeepMind and a neonatal intensive care doctor at Evelina Children’s Hospital in London, is also among the hires.

Other former DeepMind colleagues have joined the team, reflecting Suleyman’s strategy to leverage expertise from his past ventures to advance Microsoft’s AI ambitions in health.

Generative AI’s Role in Healthcare

The creation of Microsoft’s health unit underscores the tech industry’s race to integrate generative AI into everyday applications. Health has emerged as a critical area in this technological boom.

Generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and Claude are increasingly being used by consumers to seek information on medical conditions, symptoms, and mental health issues.

A recent Deloitte survey revealed that 48% of respondents used these tools for health-related queries.

Microsoft’s AI health unit will focus on these consumer-facing applications, aiming to provide accessible and reliable health information through generative AI.

The company views healthcare as a pivotal use case for responsible AI development, emphasizing its potential to empower and inform users globally.

“In our mission to inform, support, and empower everyone with responsible AI, health is a critical use case,” a Microsoft representative confirmed.

Suleyman’s experience in healthcare AI dates back to 2016 when he founded DeepMind’s health operation.

The unit grew to over 100 members in London and collaborated with 10 UK NHS hospitals to process medical data from 1.6 million patients.

The team developed an app to monitor vital signs, which demonstrated the potential of AI in improving healthcare delivery.

However, DeepMind’s health initiatives were later mired in controversy over data privacy concerns related to its UK projects.

In response, Alphabet, Google’s parent company, spun off DeepMind’s health unit in 2019, integrating it into Google Health in California.

Suleyman left DeepMind the same year, transitioning to a policy role at Google before founding the AI start-up Inflection and eventually joining Microsoft in March 2024.

Expanding Microsoft’s AI Talent Pool

In addition to King and Kelly, Microsoft has made other strategic hires to strengthen its health division.

New recruits include Peter Hames, the former CEO of UK digital health start-up Big Health, and Bay Gross, co-founder of digital healthcare provider Cityblock Health.

Suleyman has also brought on Nando de Freitas and Trevor Back, former leaders of DeepMind’s health research team.

While de Freitas and Back will not work directly on health applications, their inclusion highlights Microsoft’s broader efforts to assemble a world-class AI team.

The Future of AI in Healthcare

As Microsoft and other tech giants push deeper into healthcare, the race to develop transformative AI solutions continues to accelerate.

Suleyman’s leadership, combined with the expertise of his team, positions Microsoft to play a significant role in shaping the future of AI-driven healthcare.

By prioritizing consumer health applications, the company aims to make generative AI a trusted and indispensable tool for millions seeking medical guidance.

Stay tuned for more such updates on Digital Health News.