Microsoft top executive Peter Lee announced on Wednesday he will leave the
company. Lee led Microsoft’s internal research division since joining in 2010,
overseeing about 1,500 scientists working on AI, quantum computing, search,
robotics and cryptography. His departure follows a string of senior exits this
year, including Office and Windows head Rajesh Jha, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer, chief
communications officer Frank Shaw and security head Charlie Bell. Microsoft
Research has produced several new products, including a quantum computing chip
unveiled last year that the company says could shape the future of computing.