1Kai-Fu Lee, Taiwanese-American computer scientist, former founding president of Google China (2005-2009), founder of Sinovation Ventures, prominent AI commentator
Taiwan-born computer scientist who founded Microsoft Research China in 1998, led Google China from 2005 to 2009 and then started the investment firm 创新工场 (Sinovation Ventures). His books on AI sell widely in China.
His 2005 move from 微软 to 谷歌 set off a Microsoft lawsuit over his non-compete agreement, settled that December. While he ran Google China, the company took its Chinese name 谷歌 in 2006, explained as a 'harvest song': 谷 'grain' and 歌 'song'.