Reid Hoffman Leaves Microsoft Board To Focus On Manus AI

Former Microsoft board member Reid Hoffman has stepped down from the company’s board, marking a return to startup building and investment activities. Hoffman joined Microsoft’s board following the company’s $26.2 billion acquisition of LinkedIn in 2016.

Strategic Investment And Board Leadership

During his time on the board, Hoffman was involved in a period of significant investment in artificial intelligence, including Microsoft’s first $1 billion investment in OpenAI in 2019. As an early investor in OpenAI, Hoffman also served on the organisation’s board before stepping down in 2023 to avoid potential conflicts of interest.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Acqui-Hire Deals And AI Synergies

Hoffman’s board tenure coincided with significant strategic moves, including Microsoft’s $650 million acqui-hire deal involving his AI startup, Inflection AI. This arrangement, which saw Microsoft adding Inflection co-founder Mustafa Suleyman to its ranks, highlights the increasingly blurred lines between corporate reinvention and startup innovation in the tech landscape.

Return to Founder Mode With Manus AI

In a recent conversation on his “Possible” podcast with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Hoffman revealed his excitement to return to “founder mode” with his latest venture, Manus. This AI-driven drug discovery startup has already raised over $50 million through early seed rounds, marking it as a promising player in the competitive field of AI in healthcare.

Leadership Under Visionary Guidance

Hoffman serves as co-founder and chair of Manus AI. Day-to-day leadership is led by Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, a physician, biologist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer. The company is focused on applying artificial intelligence to chemistry and drug discovery, including research related to cancer treatment. Hoffman’s departure from Microsoft’s board comes as he increases his focus on new ventures in artificial intelligence and healthcare.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Cyprus Expected Working Life Reaches 39.5 Years, Above EU Average

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 20, 2026

People in Cyprus are expected to spend 39.5 years in the workforce, around two years longer than the European Union average of 37.5 years, according to the latest Eurostat data for 2025.

The figure places Cyprus among the EU countries with the longest expected working lives.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Cyprus Ranks Above EU Average

Only a handful of member states recorded higher figures than Cyprus. The Netherlands topped the ranking at 44 years, followed by Sweden at 43.4 years, Denmark at 42.6 years, and Estonia at 41.5 years.

At the other end of the ranking were Romania with 32.7 years, Italy with 33.0 years, Bulgaria with 34.6 years and Greece with 35.3 years.

Gender Gap Remains Wider Than EU Average

Men in Cyprus are expected to remain in work for 42.1 years, compared with 36.7 years for women. The gap of 5.4 years exceeds the EU average gender gap of 4.1 years.

Across the bloc, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were the only countries where women were expected to spend longer in employment than men. Finland recorded the smallest positive gender gap at 0.7 years.

Italy posted the widest gap at 8.9 years, followed by Romania at 6.9 years, Greece at 6.7 years and Malta at 6.3 years.

Working Lives Continue To Lengthen

Between 2016 and 2025, expected working life in Cyprus increased by 3.5 years, placing the country among the strongest performers in the EU over the period. Men’s expected working life rose by 3.3 years, while women’s increased by 3.6 years.

Across the EU, every member state recorded an increase. Malta posted the largest gain at 4.9 years, followed by Hungary and Ireland at 4.2 years each, and the Netherlands at 4.1 years.

Malta’s increase was driven largely by women, whose expected working life rose by 7.8 years, the biggest increase recorded across the bloc.

By comparison, Romania, Spain, Italy, Germany and Austria recorded gains of two years or less over the same period.

Women’s Working Lives Increase Faster Across Europe

Women’s expected working life increased faster than men’s in most EU countries. Denmark, Romania, Sweden and Greece were the main exceptions.

In Cyprus, gains for men and women were broadly similar, alongside Bulgaria, Belgium and Slovenia.

Breaking news