Mustafa Suleyman

Mustafa Suleyman CBE (born August 1984) is a British artificial intelligence (AI) entrepreneur.

He co-founded DeepMind Technologies, an AI company backed by investors such as Elon Musk in 2010. In 2014, Google acquired DeepMind for $400 million, its largest European acquisition at the time. As Head of Applied AI, Mustafa led DeepMind’s integration into Google products and co-founded DeepMind Health, which collaborated with NHS organisations. He also led an AI-driven initiative to improve Google’s data centre efficiency, reducing cooling energy use by 40%.

Mustafa currently leads Microsoft's AI division where he is responsible for expanding a consumer A.I. business, including Microsoft’s Copilot chatbot, Bing search engine, and Edge internet browser.
 

At DeepMind, Mustafa served as the Head of Applied AI and ran a division called DeepMind for Google, responsible for integrating the company's technology into various Google products.
 

He then joined Google full-time and held the position of VP of AI Products & AI Policy before joining Greylock as a Venture Partner, specialising in AI investing.
 

In 2022, Suleyman co-founded Inflection AI with Reid Hoffman, securing $225 million in funding. The company launched the chatbot “Pi,” designed for conversational engagement and personal assistance.

Mustafa is the author of The Coming Wave which offers an urgent warning of the unprecedented risks that a wave of fast-developing technologies poses to global order and how we might contain them. 

Suleyman was appointed CBE in 2019 and was listed among Time’s 100 most influential people in AI in 2023 and 2024. He co-founded the DeepMind Ethics & Society unit and the Partnership on AI, promoting responsible AI development.

Suleyman serves on the board of The Economist Group and remains a key figure in AI ethics and policy discussions.

Mustafa Suleyman was born in August 1984 in London to a Syrian father who worked as a taxi driver and an English mother who was a nurse. He grew up near Caledonian Road, London, alongside his two younger brothers. He attended Thornhill Primary School in Islington before enrolling at Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, a boys' grammar school.

During his teenage years, Mustafa became friends with Demis Hassabis, the future co-founder of DeepMind, through Hassabis’s younger brother. The two often discussed ideas on how technology could be used to drive positive change. Mustafa later enrolled at Mansfield College, University of Oxford, but left his studies at the age of 19.

At 17, Mustafa co-founded the Muslim Youth Helpline, a telephone counselling service aimed at supporting young Muslims. The organisation grew into one of the largest mental health support services in the UK.

Following this, he worked as a policy officer on human rights for Ken Livingstone, the then Mayor of London. He then co-founded Reos Partners, a consultancy specialising in systemic change and conflict resolution. His work involved advising organisations such as the United Nations, the Dutch government, and the World Wide Fund for Nature.

In 2010, Mustafa co-founded DeepMind Technologies, an artificial intelligence (AI) company, alongside Demis Hassabis and Shane Legg. DeepMind quickly gained prominence in the AI sector, attracting investments from Founders Fund, Elon Musk, and Scott Banister.

In 2014, DeepMind was acquired by Google for $400 million, making it Google’s largest European acquisition at the time. Mustafa became Head of Applied AI, leading the integration of DeepMind’s technology across various Google products.

Mustafa launched DeepMind Health in 2016 at the Royal Society of Medicine, aiming to develop AI-driven healthcare solutions. Under his leadership, DeepMind partnered with healthcare organisations, including Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to apply AI in medical diagnostics and patient care.

He also led an initiative to use DeepMind’s AI to improve energy efficiency in Google’s data centres. The project resulted in a 40% reduction in cooling energy use and a 15% improvement in overall energy efficiency.

In August 2019, Mustafa was placed on administrative leave following complaints about his management style. DeepMind’s leadership later acknowledged that his approach had not met expected workplace standards. He transitioned to a new role as Vice President of AI Products and AI Policy at Google.

In 2022, Mustafa left Google to join Greylock Partners as a venture partner, specialising in AI investments. That same year, he co-founded Inflection AI alongside Reid Hoffman and Karen Simonyan. The company aimed to develop AI-driven products that enhance human-computer interactions.

Inflection AI secured $225 million in funding and launched "Pi," an AI chatbot designed for conversational engagement and personal assistance. Pi was intended to serve as a digital "Chief of Staff" for users, maintaining context over time and providing support.

In March 2024, Microsoft appointed Mustafa as Executive Vice President (EVP) and CEO of its consumer AI division, Microsoft AI. Several key members of Inflection AI, including co-founder Karen Simonyan, joined the division.

Mustafa was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2019 New Year Honours for his contributions to AI. In both 2023 and 2024, he was named one of Time’s 100 most influential people in AI.

He has also been a board member of The Economist Group since 2019.

Mustafa has been a prominent advocate for AI ethics and responsible development. At DeepMind, he established the DeepMind Ethics & Society research unit to study the societal impact of AI. He also co-founded the Partnership on AI, a global initiative involving major technology companies such as Amazon, Apple, DeepMind, Meta, Google, IBM, and Microsoft.

In 2023, he co-authored The Coming Wave: Technology, Power and the 21st Century’s Greatest Dilemma with researcher Michael Bhaskar. The book examines the risks and opportunities presented by AI and synthetic biology, discussing the need for global oversight and regulation. It was shortlisted for the 2023 Financial Times Business Book of the Year Award.

In June 2024, during an interview at the Aspen Ideas Festival, Suleyman stated that publicly available internet content should be considered fair use unless explicitly restricted. His comments sparked discussions on data usage for AI model training and the evolving legal frameworks around AI development.

Mustafa Suleyman envisions a future where artificial intelligence (AI) serves as a transformative force for society, enhancing human potential while being developed and deployed responsibly. His work at DeepMind, Inflection AI, and Microsoft AI reflects his commitment to advancing AI technology in a way that aligns with ethical principles, policy frameworks, and societal well-being.

Mustafa believes AI should be accessible, intuitive, and integrated seamlessly into everyday life, improving industries such as healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability. He has consistently advocated for AI systems that empower individuals, reduce inefficiencies, and address global challenges, from climate change to medical diagnostics.

He also emphasises the need for robust oversight and governance in AI development. Through his work in AI ethics, including DeepMind Ethics & Society and the Partnership on AI, he has promoted responsible AI practices that prioritise safety, fairness, and accountability.

Mustafa envisions AI not as a replacement for human intelligence but as a tool for collaboration, augmenting human decision-making and creativity. As CEO of Microsoft AI, his goal is to shape AI that is both powerful and beneficial, ensuring it remains aligned with human values and contributes to a more equitable and efficient future.

Mustafa Suleyman was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2019 New Year Honours for his contributions to artificial intelligence. His work in AI development, policy, and ethics has earned him recognition as a key figure in the industry. Since 2019, he has also served as a board member of The Economist Group, contributing to discussions on global technology and policy issues.

In 2023 and 2024, Time magazine included Suleyman in its list of the 100 Most Influential People in AI, acknowledging his role in advancing AI technology and governance. His contributions to the field, particularly in applied AI and ethical AI development, have placed him among the leading voices shaping the industry’s future.

His book, The Coming Wave, co-authored with Michael Bhaskar, was shortlisted for the 2023 Financial Times Business Book of the Year Award. The book explores the opportunities and risks associated with AI and synthetic biology, highlighting the importance of responsible oversight.

Suleyman has also played a significant role in AI ethics. He co-founded DeepMind Ethics & Society, an initiative dedicated to studying AI’s societal impact. Additionally, he is a founding co-chair of the Partnership on AI, a global collaboration between major technology firms and non-profit organisations to promote ethical AI practices.