Microsoft seems to focus on AI as well:
Q: You are in charge of more than 1000 research labs around the world.
What kind of thing are you focusing on?
Microsoft: A big focus right now, really on point for this segment, is artificial intelligence.
We have been very focused.
It is our largest investment area right now.
So I know we've already seen them buying a bunch of ML and robotics companies, but now they're purchasing Shane Legg's AGI startup. This is after they've acquired Boston Dynamics, several smaller robotics and ML firms, and started their own life-extension firm.
Is it just me, or are they trying to make Accelerando or something closely related actually happen? Given that they're buying up real experts and not just "AI is inevitable" prediction geeks (who shall remain politely unnamed out of respect for their real, original expertise in machine learning), has someone had a polite word with them about not killing all humans by sheer accident?