Does anyone know why Kai-Fu Lee left Microsoft in the first place?

Kai-Fu Lee joining Google is definitely shocking to people. You must know that he left the position of global vice president of Microsoft and joined a company that even Bill Gates felt was his biggest competitor. company, no wonder Microsoft did not hesitate to take legal action and took both Kai-Fu Lee and Google to court. It can be said that it is unbearable. For a time, the Kai-Fu Lee incident became the center of a whirlpool, attracting people's extreme attention and visual nerves. A decision made by a once prominent person did not expect to have such a huge impact on the whole body, just because he came from the top of Microsoft and at the same time fell into the arms of a competitor. If you taste it carefully, the connotation is quite profound. Why did Kai-fu Lee make such a decision? Can Google realize its dream?

We like the new and hate the old. Why is the late festival not guaranteed?

It happened to Kai-Fu Lee that he left Microsoft and joined Google in a flash, which shocked the industry to some extent. Kai-fu Lee, who is so elegant and wise, and who vigorously advocates integrity to Chinese college students, why did he become a "shooting target" for others and endanger his life? You know, Kaifu Lee once made it clear that Microsoft would be his last stop. Why did he suddenly change his mind? What made Kai-Fu Lee choose Google?

The most crowning statement is that Kai-fu Lee has long wanted to return to China. "Although I was transferred to the United States, a lot of my thoughts are still in China, because this is my hometown." Kai-fu Lee said that the fundamental reason for joining Google was that he missed his hometown and the youth of China. "Over the years, I have written four letters and many Articles, a website with a forum, and a book will be published in the future. These are all for China’s youth.” The author does not doubt Dr. Li’s frankness and wanderlust, but choosing Google makes people feel a little bit. A bit ungrateful? You must know that Google is a competitor of Microsoft, and Dr. Li once held an important position in Microsoft. And simply playing the homesickness card also makes people think that Dr. Lee is trying to appeal to national sentiments.

Moreover, although Dr. Li is homesick, he also hopes to find an ideal habitat. “It’s not my original intention to find a boring position just to return to China.” This position must “first be able to return to China, and secondly, it must be in line with my belief in pursuing passion.” The author also believes that Kai-fu Lee's job change is to "let every user have access to and use the most advanced technology. At the same time, I also want to contribute to China's development and innovation. Joining Google gives me the opportunity to achieve the above two Goal, I am now very much looking forward to returning to China and starting my new working career.”

We can also imagine that in the complicated place of Microsoft, Kai-fu Lee has many reasons to leave, but the author feels that leaving at a lightning speed is impossible. It is reasonable to assume that when an ordinary employee leaves an ordinary position, he still needs to inform the superior department one to three months in advance. What’s more, Kai-fu Lee has already sat in such an important and high position, and his departure should not be lightning-fast. , and defected to a direct competitor. No wonder Microsoft is angry.

"A few years ago, people said that capable people yearned for Microsoft and wanted to enter Microsoft. But now, people see that capable people yearn for Google and want to enter Google. This is not surprising, in technology In the information field where the market is changing rapidly, there is no permanent leader. Microsoft is facing the challenge of open source software such as Linux. The development of its technology, products and market has slowed down, and the value of stocks and options is not so attractive; on the contrary, Google is "It shows a lot of vitality and attraction." Ni Guangnan understandably felt about Dr. Li's departure. The recognition of the academic community also laid the foundation for Kai-fu Lee's trip to China, although Kai-fu Lee is currently unable to come back to start work.

Microsoft cares a lot and Gates is very angry

Kai-Fu Lee’s departure is a big blow to Microsoft. When high-level executives leave, they choose their own competitors. Bill is not angry because Impossible. As we all know, Kai-fu Lee has high prestige in the industry and academia, and he also has many connections in large companies, which is why Microsoft is so anxious.

It is only natural for Microsoft to turn to the law. Microsoft stated in the indictment that Kaifu Lee had long had the idea of ????defecting to Google. He first contacted Google in mid-April this year, and began to take leave in June, followed by July 5 On the same day, he informed his boss Eric Rudder that he would not return to Microsoft.

Microsoft said that Kai-Fu Lee signed a confidentiality agreement with Microsoft. The content of the agreement includes: Within one year of leaving his job, he shall not engage in work that competes with Microsoft. Microsoft's lawyer said: "(Kai-Fu Lee's behavior) is simply the most blatant infringement of the agreement he signed with Microsoft. His current position constitutes the most direct competitive relationship with the work he did at Microsoft." Microsoft made it clear: " As a senior executive of the company, Dr. Kaifu Lee knew Microsoft's commercial secrets in search technology and China business strategy. The position he accepted was to do the same technology and strategy for a direct competitor, which was inconsistent with the contractual responsibilities he signed. "Microsoft also stated that this behavior is contrary to the confidentiality agreement and non-compete agreement signed by Microsoft employees. This is why the court issued a temporary restraining order.

Kai-Fu Lee's resignation has produced a catfish effect to a certain extent. It is reported that hundreds of people from Microsoft have joined Google, but Kai-Fu Lee is the one with the highest administrative level. How could Microsoft not be annoyed? In the emerging Internet technology market, Microsoft and Google have become fierce rivals. With the sudden rise of Google in the search field, it has attracted enough attention from the Microsoft empire. Microsoft has also been trying to make gains in this field. However, Kai-fu Lee's departure has affected Microsoft's efforts in this field to a certain extent.

For Microsoft, which has always maintained its dominance in the technology field, Kai-fu Lee's "betrayal" is undoubtedly unforgivable, so Microsoft ultimately hopes to seek justice for itself through legal channels. The latest news from the court shows that the court made a ruling that Dr. Kai-Fu Lee is now temporarily unable to perform the work that Google hired him to do. Supreme Court Justice Steven Gonzalez issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting Kai-Fu Lee from engaging in any products, services and projects at Google that are similar to his work at Microsoft, including Internet and desktop search technology. Although the lawsuit has not yet been finalized, Microsoft has at least gained a certain advantage.

Of course, Google has its own opinion. After the court made its ruling, Google said immediately, "While we do not believe that this temporary restraining order is necessary, we are pleased that the judge realized that Google and Dr. Li All that's needed is to prevent Dr. Li from doing anything that competes with his previous projects at Microsoft. As we have said all along, we have no intention of letting him do these things. The judge also asked Microsoft to be clearer. They believe that Dr. Li has done things at Microsoft that will conflict with Google. We look forward to Microsoft implementing this request and giving a clear explanation. "In fact, Google has long expected to sue Microsoft. It is much easier to handle in operations.

What attracted Kai-Fu Lee to Google?

What did Google rely on to make Kai-Fu Lee choose to leave Microsoft without any hesitation? Is it just Dr. Li’s China complex? Apparently not exactly. At first, market rumors were that a headhunting company was operating in it, and a headhunting fee of 130 million was reported. But soon Kai-fu Lee reported that he did not join Google through a headhunting company, "Because Eric and I have known each other for so many years. If we still hire a headhunter, it would be like giving money to others in vain." Kai-Fu Lee said that he started joining Google through email.

The person Kai-fu Lee mentioned in his email was Eric, the current CEO of Google. In fact, Kai-fu Lee and Eric have been friends for many years. When Kai-Fu Lee was vice president of Apple, he collaborated with Sun to develop a Java-based multimedia technology to challenge Microsoft. The person in charge of Sun who partnered with Kai-Fu Lee at that time was Eric.

After several rounds of emails, Kai-fu Lee and Eric started a phone conversation. Kai-fu Lee was worried whether the Chinese president of Google would be business-oriented. If he was business-oriented, it would not be in line with Li's original intention. "Google's main job in China is engineering research, because China's talents are very good, especially the Chinese college students from Shanghai Jiao Tong University who won the first place in the World Programming Competition, which made everyone look at China's talents with admiration." Eric's reply eliminated Kai-fu Lee's basic question. Worry.

Later, Kai-Fu Lee realized Google’s corporate culture. "First of all, Google makes everything by itself, from hardware to software, which is very consistent with the habit of a computer scientist who likes to make everything by himself, from hardware to software." "Secondly, the atmosphere at Google is very equal. I once asked a person with more than 300 people There are several leaders in the project team, but the answer is that there is only one. This is simply a real research institute. Whoever has a good project will vote to join. As we work on it, new projects will appear. If we talk about IBM and Microsoft. This kind of company is like a factory, and Google is more like a university, with free ideas and practices without too many constraints." Dr. Li believed that a more reasonable and better cultural atmosphere accelerated his decision quickly. Obviously, Kaifu Lee yearned for such an environment. It was this passionate research environment that prompted Kaifu Lee to finally give up Microsoft and join Google.

Is there a crisis of integrity in Chuangzhi Life?

Li Ka-shing once said that integrity is not only a kind of moral character, but also a symbol of strength and confidence. The Chinese nation has valued integrity since ancient times and emphasized that people cannot stand without trust. "Ji Bu has no two promises, but Hou Yi has a strong word." The sages' noble integrity has set an example for us. Kai-Fu Lee said about his creed as a human being: "The most precious inheritance my father gave me are ten words, 'Tolerance and virtue are great, and there is no need to strive for excellence'." I believe that Dr. Li is eager to create the greatest impact, so he breaks his promises. Kaifu Lee emphasized, "I have the right to choose. I chose Google, I chose China, and I want to do something influential." Obviously, after Microsoft's development reached a certain limit, he longed for a broader development platform.

"If I lose the case, I will not regret it." Kai-fu Lee expressed his confidence and determination to the media during his short trip to Beijing. Regarding the lawsuit, Kai-fu Lee expressed calmly, "Usually people who have done something wrong need to remain silent or not respond. I hope everyone believes that my decision is acceptable and time will resolve these problems." Kai-fu Lee said: At Google, I can pass Learn new innovative models and become the best version of yourself. He said that it was Google's corporate culture that deeply attracted him, Google's "new generation technology" and its passion for innovation, Google's pursuit of public interests and Google's "passion magic". It was these advantages that made Kai-Fu Lee give up his promise.

Kaifu Lee said frankly, "What Google values ??most about me is not my technology, but my influence on talents." What Google lacks most now is talents. Joining him will help Google establish a systematic talent recruitment system in China. and training plans to make Google China a localized company. Kaifu Lee emphasized, "This is not about poaching people from other companies (such as Microsoft), but training people. Microsoft is still a great company after 20 years, but now Google Compared to Microsoft, Google is more in line with the Internet era. I look forward to developing a career in an entrepreneurial space. Google China has a rare opportunity. I followed my heart and came to Google."

Some people think that Dr. Li’s choice to leave Microsoft is understandable. After all, a R&D staff should constantly challenge themselves. As long as they don’t take away Microsoft’s R&D secrets, they can change jobs. And we must choose the best environment, otherwise it will kill the lives of scientific researchers. Moreover, Microsoft is a company known for attacking its competitors. It constantly acquires innovative companies and attacks its competitors in order to dominate the market.

Google's biggest threat to Microsoft's monopoly comes from Google's innovation and respect for users.

Google has never been able to enter the Chinese market, so it is inevitable to choose someone with more personal charm. Kaifu Lee’s boss currently has not given him a clear goal—how many people to recruit and what kind of performance to achieve. The only requirement is that "recruitment standards cannot be lowered and recruitment can be unlimited." Kaifu Li hopes to recruit his Chinese search R&D team from fresh graduates of the school. His main criteria for recruiting people are: smart people, creative people, and people with integrity. Dr. Li actually also cares about integrity. Time can dissolve everything, and stagnant water cannot be slightly rippled. Because of the beating, there are ripples of development. I believe that Google’s trip to China will give us more time to appreciate and observe Dr. Li’s move.

Reference materials: /newmedia/2005-09/13/content_3484861.htm