Head of Microsoft AI and Research Harry Shum Is Leaving the Company

Microsoft Executive Vice President Harry Shum (Shen Xiangyang), the head of Microsoft AI and Research, will leave the tech giant in early 2020. A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the departure of the 23-year Microsoft veteran, who will continue advising CEO Satya Nadella and company co-founder Bill Gates. Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott assumes Shum's position as head of Microsoft AI and Research effective immediately. Microsoft established its AI and Research Group in 2016 and chose Shum to lead it. At that time, the 5,000 person group comprised Cortana, Bing, and Ambient Computing and Robotics engineering teams mixed with parts of Microsoft Research.