Microsoft's New CoreAI Group Led by Jay Parikh and Ex-Meta Executives

A leaked internal Microsoft organization chart reveals the leadership structure of the newly established CoreAI group, which is central to the company’s ambitious plans for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its products and services. The chart, recently obtained by Business Insider, shows that Jay Parikh, appointed by CEO Satya Nadella in January, is leading the team. Notably, several key figures on the org chart are former Meta employees, reflecting Parikh’s prior tenure at the company. Key Leadership Appointments: Asha Sharma: Corporate Vice President, Product, AI Platform Background: Previously, Chief Operating Officer at Instacart and a Vice President at Meta. Responsibilities: Leads product development for Microsoft’s AI platform and oversees a team of nearly 400. Eric Boyd: Corporate Vice President, Engineering, AI Platform Background: Has been involved in AI at Microsoft for over a decade. Responsibilities: Manages a team of more than 2,200 employees. There were previous concerns within the team that it was becoming merely "IT for OpenAI," but Boyd’s role under Parikh suggests a renewed focus. Julia Liuson: President, Microsoft Developer Division Background: Over 33 years of experience at Microsoft. Responsibilities: Heads the largest segment of the CoreAI organization, with around 7,000 employees. Her team, known as DevDiv, develops tools, platforms, and services for developers. Caitie McCaffrey: Member of Technical Staff Background: Formerly a technical advisor to Satya Nadella. Responsibilities: Directly reports to Parikh and focuses on leading critical technical initiatives, enhancing security, quality, and productivity. Jason Taylor: Corporate Vice President of AI Infrastructure Background: Previously a Vice President of Infrastructure at Meta, overlapping with Parikh. Responsibilities: Oversees a smaller team of about eight, focusing on AI infrastructure. Michael Kirkland: Vice President of Engagement, CoreAI Background: Hired last month, former Vice President of Technology Communications at Meta. Responsibilities: Currently lacks direct reports but is set to enhance engagement within the organization. Tim Bozarth: Corporate Vice President of EngThrive Background: Joined Microsoft in 2022 from Google. Responsibilities: Leads EngThrise, an initiative aimed at improving engineering efficiency and developer experiences, with a few dozen direct reports. The formation of the CoreAI group and the appointment of these seasoned leaders indicate Microsoft’s serious commitment to advancing AI technologies and applications. By bringing in executives with diverse backgrounds, particularly those with experience at Meta, Microsoft aims to infuse its AI efforts with fresh perspectives and proven expertise. This strategic move aligns with the broader industry trend of tech companies racing to integrate AI into their business models, driven by the potential for significant innovation and market disruption. Industry insiders view the assembly of this team as a strong play by Microsoft to solidify its position in the AI landscape. The inclusion of former Meta employees, known for their work in large-scale systems and user engagement, could bring valuable insights and practices to Microsoft’s AI development. Moreover, the leadership’s deep expertise and long tenure at Microsoft, especially in the case of Liuson, suggest a blend of institutional knowledge and external innovation, a formula that could prove highly effective.