Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleiman has never been one to mince his words and his latest comments prove just that. In a candid new interview, Suleiman, who heads Microsoft AI, offered his take on some of the biggest names shaping the artificial intelligence revolution, from OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Google DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis to Elon Musk, whom he memorably described as a “bulldozer.” Speaking to Bloomberg in a wide-ranging conversation, Suleiman reflected on his relationship with fellow AI leaders and how their paths are increasingly likely to cross as the race for smarter, faster and more powerful models intensifies.

Microsoft AI CEO calls rival Sam Altman a great entrepreneur

Suleiman, who co-founded DeepMind before starting Inflection AI and later joining Microsoft, said he regularly talks with his peers across the AI ​​landscape, including Altman, Hassabis and Anthropic’s Dario Amodei. When asked about OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Suleiman didn’t hold back his praise. He called Altman “courageous” for taking on some of the biggest challenges in the tech sector, particularly the ambitious project to build a massive AI data center to power ChatGPIT and its successors.

“He could become one of the great entrepreneurs of our generation,” Suleiman said. “He’s certainly accomplished a lot. He’s building data centers at a faster pace than anyone else in the industry, and if he can accomplish that, it will be pretty dramatic.”

Suleiman also dismissed skepticism about OpenAI’s aggressive expansion plans and financial commitments, and expressed confidence in the company’s ability to deliver on its vision. “He’s pushing the boundaries and that’s what this area needs,” he said.

Demis Hassabis is a great thinker: Suleiman

Suleiman’s praise extended to his former DeepMind co-founder and now head of Google DeepMind, Demis Hassabis. Although the two are technically rivals, Suleiman said they remain close friends and keep in touch frequently. “I think he’s a great thinker and a good ethicist,” he said, praising Hassabis as “a great scientist” who “has contributed extensively to this field many times over.”

Suleiman revealed that he also recently sent a congratulatory text to Hassabis following DeepMind’s latest successes, including NanoBanana, Gemini 3, and the continued development of AlphaFold, which has changed the world of protein structure prediction.

While they may now be on opposing teams in the AI ​​arms race, there’s clearly a strong sense of mutual respect between the two pioneers who helped shape modern artificial intelligence as we know it.

Suleiman thinks Elon Musk is a bulldozer

Then came the question everyone wanted to hear, what does Microsoft AI boss Elon Musk think? Suleman’s answer was as colorful as it was being said. He called the XAI founder and former OpenAI co-founder a “bulldozer”, a person who is able to “bend reality to his will.”

“He has supernatural abilities to bend reality to his will and, you know, his track record is quite incredible,” Suleiman said. “And somehow he manages to accomplish most seemingly impossible things.”

They pointed to Musk’s accomplishments with Tesla and SpaceX, which redefined the automotive and space industries, while noting his growing ambitions in medical technology through Neuralink and underground transportation through The Boring Company.

Suleiman also commented on Musk’s rising political profile, noting his role as a major Republican donor and his brief stint with the Trump administration. The two famously clashed earlier this year, but recent signs suggest they may be patching things up.

While acknowledging that Musk has “a different kind of set of values”, Suleiman said he appreciates the billionaire’s unapologetic honesty. “I like that he speaks his mind. He’s very unfiltered,” she said with a smile.

It’s rare for AI giants to comment on each other publicly, but Suleiman’s openness gives a glimpse of the camaraderie and competition that drive the industry’s most powerful figures.

From Altman’s bold bets on AI infrastructure to Hassabis’ deep scientific rigor and Musk’s unstoppable drive, Suleiman’s comments capture the essence of an industry driven by ambition and audacity. And if his comments are any indication, Microsoft’s AI boss sees plenty of room and competition for all of them in the years to come.