Decoding Azure AI Search with Microsoft Distinguished Engineer Pablo Castro
May 5, 2024
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Pablo Castro, a distinguished engineer at Microsoft, shares his journey from Argentina to shaping Azure AI. He highlights the potential of large language models and the importance of grounding AI to tackle hallucination issues. Pablo emphasizes Microsoft's commitment to responsible AI, focusing on security and data management. He reflects on the invaluable role of mentors in his career and presents an optimistic vision for the future of work, where human creativity and AI collaboration drive progress.
The integration of large language models with relevant business data enhances decision-making and provides contextual responses for improved user interactions.
Microsoft prioritizes responsible AI practices, emphasizing data security, transparency, and fairness to build trust and ensure user privacy.
Deep dives
Pablo Castro's Journey at Microsoft
Pablo Castro's career at Microsoft has spanned over two decades, beginning with his initial roles as a program and technical manager. His journey illustrates the dynamic opportunities available within a large tech company, where continuous learning and exploration of new challenges keep employees engaged. Castro emphasizes the importance of curiosity and adaptability in navigating his varied roles, which kept him enthusiastic about his work at Microsoft. This adaptability also reflects his affinity for the company's vibrant culture, which encourages innovation and exploration.
Integration of AI and Knowledge Systems
Castro discusses the intersection of language models and knowledge systems, where the challenge lies in merging advanced AI with relevant business data. To facilitate this integration effectively, he explains the need for a robust retrieval system that allows the language model to access pertinent information, such as emails and documents. Use cases include tools like M365 CoPilot, which can provide contextual responses based on individual calendars and documents, making AI interactions more relevant and practical. By grounding AI responses in specific business knowledge, this innovation demonstrates the potential of AI to enhance decision-making in real-time.
Advancements in AI Capabilities
The podcast highlights significant advancements in AI, including models with longer context lengths and improved speed, enabling more sophisticated interactions. Castro explains that these developments allow for deeper reasoning and faster responses, which are essential for real-time applications. Furthermore, the evolution of retrieval systems enhances the accuracy and relevance of AI-generated information by allowing interactions between the language model and knowledge base. This combination fosters a more intuitive user experience and accommodates complex inquiries with precision.
Responsible AI Practices
An essential topic address in the podcast is the commitment to responsible AI practices, ensuring that data management and user privacy are prioritized. The discussion emphasizes that Microsoft does not retain or use customer data for training, thereby alleviating concerns about data security among businesses. Cultivating a framework for responsible AI involves using comprehensive guidelines that encourage transparency, fairness, and inclusiveness in AI applications. This structured approach not only builds trust with customers but also sets a standard for how AI technologies should be developed and utilized responsibly in various industries.
In this episode, Boaz Ashkenazy interviews Pablo Castro, a distinguished engineer at Microsoft. They discuss Pablo's background and journey at Microsoft, his current work in Azure Open AI and databases, and the practical applications of AI in business. They also explore exciting developments in large language models and address concerns about hallucination in AI systems. Pablo emphasizes the importance of security and responsible AI and shares insights into Microsoft's direction in AI. He also reflects on the mentors who have influenced his career and shares his optimistic vision for the future of work and AI.
Takeaways
Large language models are becoming more sophisticated and capable of reasoning, opening up new possibilities for practical applications in business.
Addressing hallucination in AI systems requires grounding the answers in concrete data and involving users in the process.
Security and responsible AI are top priorities for Microsoft, with a focus on data management, transparency, and inclusiveness.
Microsoft is working on scaling retrieval systems and improving the economics of AI applications to remove barriers for businesses.
Pablo Castro highlights the importance of mentors and learning from experienced professionals in shaping a successful career in AI.
The future of work and AI is about going further by combining human ingenuity with the capabilities of AI systems to tackle complex challenges and drive progress.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:10 Early Interest in Computers
03:25 First Job and Experience in Application Development
05:29 Working with Azure Open AI and Databases
07:04 Practical Examples of AI in Business
10:09 Exciting Developments in Large Language Models