Microsoft Hires Former Siri Chief Bill Stasior For Its AI Division

Bill Stasior, after working for Apple’s Siri Division for seven years, has reportedly left the company to work for Microsoft’s Artificial Intelligence, commonly known as AI, Division.

Siri’s former chief will be reporting at Microsoft starting this month as the new corporate Vice President of Technology. That said, Stasior will be in direct supervision of Microsoft’s Chief Technology Officer, Kevin Scott.

Stasior reportedly updated his résumé in his personal website, on Monday, announcing his new job. However, certain questions and information about his new career endeavor was immediately referred to Microsoft’s spokesperson.

Confirming Stasior’s hiring, a Microsoft representative explained that Siri’s former chief would work to aid in aligning of technology strategies across the company, The Information reported.

This move underscores Microsoft’s focus on developing technologies such as AI. The company established the AI and Research Engineering group in 2016. Months thereafter, Microsoft added AI to its top priority list, CNBC reported.

Microsoft’s new VP earned his Ph.D. degree in Computer Science at MIT. Stasior became the head of Apple’s Siri Division after Siri co-founders Adam Cheyer and Dag Kittlaus left the company in 2012, Mac Rumors reported.

Stasior reportedly stepped down from his position as Apple’s Siri Division chief as part of restructuring strategy of John Giannandrea, former head of search and AI at Google. Apple hired Giannandrea, who’s now the Senior Vice President of Machine Learning and AI Strategy, in 2018. His main job at Apple is to oversee the strategy of AI and machine learning across the company. At the same time, the Core ML and Siri technologies development are also under his supervision.

Despite being the first of its kind, Siri reportedly fell behind Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa in terms of usability because of its stricter stance on user privacy. Siri is present in every Apple’s iPhone and iPad but Google and Amazon had successfully and widely incorporated their assistants in smart home products, a sector in which Apple still has to work on.

When Giannandrea, Apple was in the process of revamping their current AI efforts, The Verge reported. A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, with honors, at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland, Giannandrea spent eight years of his career at Google as the head of Machine Intelligence, Research and Search Teams.

Upon the completion of his degree, Apple’s the Senior VP of Machine Learning and AI Strategy received the Doctorate Honoris Causa. Giannandrea’s Doctorate Honoris Causa is a prestigious award only given to those outstanding individuals in recognition for their notable contribution in his or her field of expertise, higher education or specific institution.