The Disneyland of tech

HERE'S a trick question. Name a research facility working at the cutting edge of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and computing that employs 800 full-time computer sciences PhDs, out of a total of 1,200 PhDs on its payroll?

Perhaps, top tertiary institutions such as Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), California Institute of Technology (CalTech) or Beijing University spring to mind. But no, the answer is none of the above august universities - or in fact any teaching facility for that matter. It's Microsoft Research (MSR), a division within Microsoft dedicated to basic science and technology research.

Brad Smith, president and chief legal officer of Microsoft, is proud of the research chops of MSR.