After Microsoft poaches two Inflection AI co-founders to lead Microsoft AI, UK regulators are now investigating whether the move is intended to 'shield themselves from competition.'

Microsoft is being investigated in the UK over whether it has effectively merged with an artificial intelligence (AI) start-up firm by hiring its staff. Key employees at Inflection AI left the company in March to join the tech giant, with co-founder Mustafa Suleyman becoming head of its new AI division.

British regulators have opened a preliminary investigation into Microsoft’s hiring of an AI startup’s key staff over concerns that it could thwart competition in the booming artificial intelligence market.