Microsoft Research Podcast

Rebecca Janssen, an economist studying AI’s impacts on work and society. Jake Hofman, a researcher of AI and human cognition. Jenna Butler, an expert on developer productivity and AI in software workflows. They discuss rapid generative AI change, who is adopting AI and how, effects on productivity and early-career risk, metaphors that shape use, and visions for AI that supports meaningful work.

Subutai Ahmad, a computer scientist translating neocortex ideas into AI, and Nicolò Fusi, a researcher on transformer and LLM architectures, debate machine intelligence. They compare transformer attention to cortical columns, discuss continual learning vs memorization, energy and sparsity trade-offs, and whether many small, parallel modules could recreate brain-like intelligence.

Microsoft research lead Doug Burger introduces his new podcast series, The Shape of Things to Come, an exploration into the fundamental truths about AI and how the technology will reshape the future.The Shape of Things to Come podcast series

Hanna Wallach, a leading researcher in computational social science and responsible AI, shares insights from her experience co-founding the Women in Machine Learning workshop. She discusses the evolution of WiML over 20 years, highlighting community challenges and successes. The conversation dives into the gaps between theoretical fairness in AI and real-world applications, and how generative AI demands rigorous evaluation. They also emphasize the importance of designing AI that fosters critical thinking and shares valuable advice for aspiring researchers.

Microsoft’s Eric Horvitz and guests Bruce Wittmann, Tessa Alexanian, and James Diggans discuss the Paraphrase Project—a red-teaming effort that exposed and secured a biosecurity vulnerability in AI-driven protein design. The work offers a model for addressing AI’s dual-use risks.Show notes

In a thought-provoking discussion, Zak Kohane, a physician and Harvard Medical School professor, teams up with journalist Carey Goldberg, co-author of 'The AI Revolution in Medicine.' They delve into the complexities of integrating AI in healthcare, emphasizing the balance between innovation and traditional practices. The duo reflects on ethical implications, the quest for personalized medicine, and the necessity for trust in patient-doctor relationships. They also explore challenges related to healthcare costs, workforce dynamics, and the future of biomedical research.

Dr. Umair Shah, former Washington State Secretary of Health and health innovation expert, joins Dr. Gianrico Farrugia, President of Mayo Clinic, to discuss the revolutionary role of AI in healthcare. They explore how innovative technologies can reshape public health strategies and improve patient experiences. Umair shares his journey in launching Rickshaw Health, while Gianrico highlights AI's impact on chronic disease management. The conversation also emphasizes the need for collaboration between public health leaders and AI developers to harness technology effectively.

Morgan Cheatham, a Brown Medical School graduate with clinical training at Harvard, and Daniel Chen, a med student with a neuroscience background, dive into the transformative effects of generative AI on medical education. They discuss how AI tools like ChatGPT are reshaping learning and decision-making in healthcare. The duo highlights the need for AI integration in medical training and the importance of balancing technology with traditional skills. They also consider the evolving responsibilities of healthcare professionals in this tech-driven era.

Amanda Craig Deckard, Senior Director of Public Policy in Microsoft's Office of Responsible AI, shares insights on AI testing and evaluation. She discusses the need for effective governance, highlighting lessons learned about pre-deployment and post-deployment testing. The conversation emphasizes the importance of rigor, standardization, and interpretability in AI evaluation. Deckard also explores the sociotechnical impacts of AI and the necessity of collaborative efforts across sectors to ensure responsible AI development, drawing parallels from fields like cybersecurity.

Ciaran Martin, a professor at Oxford and former head of the UK's National Cybersecurity Center, and Tori Westerhoff, Principal Director at Microsoft’s AI Red Team, dive deep into the intersection of AI and cybersecurity. They discuss the importance of differentiated cybersecurity standards and the role of public-private partnerships in enhancing security. Martin shares insights from historical events, while Westerhoff highlights how red teaming can pinpoint AI vulnerabilities during development, ensuring safer technological advancements.