The incident of Microsoft repackaging Chinese AI teams overseas is still ongoing.
Recently, multiple social media outlets have reported that Microsoft's Azure artificial intelligence team in China will collectively "package" overseas. Many Microsoft China employees in Beijing, Shanghai, and other places have received emails asking if they are willing to migrate to other regions to work, including the United States, Australia, Ireland, and other countries. The employees involved include those working in machine learning and other cloud computing related teams. The company will be responsible for family visa issues or may involve 700-800 employees.
In response to this, Microsoft responded to Interface News by stating that a small number of employees have the opportunity to choose international job rotation. Employees can choose to accept job rotation or continue working in their current positions. The specific number of affected individuals has not been disclosed.
Although employees are free to choose whether to stay or not, there are still concerns that their career plans may be affected, "because all core businesses have been taken away."
"Everything came too suddenly! It feels like an option that has brought about a huge change in life, suddenly falling from the sky without warning!" said a Microsoft China employee in social media.
There are many employees like him who list the advantages and disadvantages of going or not going on social media, trying to seek the opinions of those who have come over. On the one hand, this is a brand new opportunity to experience cultural diversity and increase life experiences; On the other hand, they are also concerned about language communication and adaptation to new environments, as well as difficulties in family relocation.
"The company's relocation usually grants L1B visas (for technical personnel), and a small number of core employees may obtain L1A visas (for senior management personnel). If they go there, they will have to wait in line for green cards, and if they are laid off during this period, they will not be able to work in the United States." This Microsoft China employee is also worried that the recent skyrocketing housing prices in the United States due to inflation may not be as good as the quality of life in China.
There is not much time left for them to think, and these employees facing international transfers need to make a decision before June 7th.
There may have been signs of Microsoft withdrawing from the Chinese AI team.
According to Sina Technology citing an insider from Microsoft, currently, Microsoft is implementing a certain degree of "isolation" from China in terms of AI research. At Microsoft Research Asia in Beijing, employees cannot experience the beta versions of some OpenAI products in advance, nor can they touch the core of cutting-edge technologies such as quantum computing, face recognition, and synthetic media.
Last June, it was also reported that Microsoft Research Asia (MSRA), the only research institute set up by Microsoft in China, was going to leave China and move to Vancouver, Canada. Although MSRA subsequently denied this rumor, Microsoft's claim of "isolating" Chinese AI is gaining more and more recognition in the context of intensified competition between China and the United States and scarce AI talent.
The history of Microsoft's entry into China can be traced back to 1992. Later, Microsoft China Research and Development Center and Microsoft China Research Institute were established in 1995 and 1998 respectively, the latter being the predecessor of Microsoft Research Asia. Microsoft's business development in China has gradually expanded from initial software sales to multiple fields such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things.
Microsoft China has now formed a structure with Beijing as its headquarters and branch offices in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan, and Shenzhen. As of September 2022, Microsoft has over 9000 employees in China, of which 80% are research and engineering technicians. At that time, Microsoft China also claimed that it would continue to expand its recruitment in China within the next year, with an expected total number of employees exceeding 10000.
But based on a series of rumors and actions from last year until now, Microsoft is using real money to prove to the outside world that its artificial intelligence layout is tilting towards Southeast Asia.
On May 2nd, Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella announced that Microsoft will invest $2.2 billion in Malaysia over the next four years to build cloud computing and AI computing infrastructure (data centers), and provide AI skills training for 200000 people. This is Microsoft's largest single investment in Malaysia in 32 years.
Moreover, Microsoft has promised to invest $1.7 billion in Indonesia to develop cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure, expected to be completed within four years. Microsoft has also announced a new investment plan in Thailand, but the specific amount is not detailed. Previously, Microsoft's Southeast Asian data centers were mostly established in Singapore.
Not only the countries mentioned above that have already announced specific plans, but also for the entire Southeast Asia, Microsoft has stated in relevant statements that by 2025, it hopes to provide artificial intelligence skills opportunities for 2.5 million people in ASEAN member countries. From these contents, it is not difficult to see that Microsoft has placed a huge ambition in this emerging market.
According to data previously disclosed by Microsoft President Brad Smith, China only accounts for 1.5% of Microsoft's sales, and the new Bing AI search cannot be launched in China, which further strengthens the significance of Microsoft's "isolation" of Chinese AI.