Microsoft Research Podcast

Dave deBronkart, known as ePatientDave, is a trailblazer in patient empowerment and a cancer survivor. Christina Farr, a former health tech reporter, now advises on healthcare innovations. They explore how generative AI tools like ChatGPT enhance patient understanding and communication. Topics include the evolving digital health startup landscape and the impact of AI on women's health, pediatrics, and elder care. They emphasize the need for human oversight in AI applications and address challenges in integrating AI into healthcare systems.

Matthew Lungren, Chief Scientific Officer at Microsoft Health and Life Sciences, and Seth Hain, Senior VP at Epic, explore the cutting-edge world of healthcare AI. They discuss the transformative power of generative AI in automating clinical documentation, which helps reduce clinician burnout. The duo highlights the challenges of integrating AI within electronic health records and the potential of innovative projects like Cosmos to enhance patient care. They emphasize the critical collaboration between healthcare professionals and AI to improve workflows and decision-making.

Mohamed Idris, an Assistant Professor of Medicine, researches how AI can tackle health disparities, particularly in cancer care. Cesar Torres, an Assistant Professor in Computer Science and director of the Hybrid Atelier, explores technology's intersection with creativity. They discuss the Accelerating Foundation Models Research program's potential to democratize AI access. Their conversation covers innovative AI solutions for marginalized communities, the importance of cultural relevance in AI development, and the role of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing societal challenges.

In a compelling discussion, Dr. Christopher Longhurst, Chief Clinical and Innovation Officer at UC San Diego Health, and Dr. Sara Murray, Chief Health AI Officer at UC San Francisco Health, dive into the transformative role of AI in medicine. They explore how generative AI is changing patient communication, enhancing clinician efficiency, and addressing documentation burdens. The conversation highlights ethical AI deployment, the integration of AI scribes, and the importance of human oversight in clinical settings, showcasing the exciting yet complex future of healthcare technology.

Discover how generative AI is reshaping healthcare and the vital role it plays in patient care dynamics. Follow the host's emotional journey from skepticism to recognition of AI's potential. Delve into the ethical dilemmas and collaborative efforts essential for harnessing this technology's transformative power. This engaging discussion highlights not just the tech but redefines what it truly means to care for patients.

Chetan Nayak, Technical Fellow of Quantum Hardware at Microsoft Quantum, discusses revolutionary breakthroughs in quantum computing. He highlights the creation of the first topoconductor and its role in advancing QPU architecture. Nayak explains how unique properties of Majorana zero modes could reshape scalability in quantum systems. The conversation also touches on the relationship between quantum computing and AI, emphasizing the need for new materials and innovative measurement techniques to push the boundaries of technology.

In this episode, guest host Chris Stetkiewicz talks with Microsoft Principal Researcher Akshay Nambi about his focus on developing AI-driven technology that addresses real-world challenges at scale. Drawing on firsthand experiences, Nambi combines his expertise in electronics and computer science to create systems that enhance road safety, agriculture, and energy infrastructure. He’s currently working on AI-powered tools to improve education, including a digital assistant that can help teachers work more efficiently and create effective lesson plans and solutions to help improve the accuracy of models underpinning AI tutors.

Struggles with programming languages helped research manager Shan Lu find her calling as a bug hunter. She discusses one bug that really haunted her, the thousands she’s identified since, and how she’s turning to LLMs to help make software more reliable.

How do you generate and test materials that don’t exist yet? Researchers Tian Xie and Ziheng Lu share the story behind MatterGen and MatterSim, AI tools poised to transform materials discovery and help drive advances in energy, manufacturing, and sustainability.

Madeleine Daepp, a Microsoft senior researcher specializing in generative AI's political impact, and Robert Osazuwa Ness, who focuses on the reliability of large language models, delve into AI's role in democracy. They discuss the challenges of disinformation, especially during elections, and emphasize the innovations in Taiwan and India’s voting systems. The conversation also highlights the dual-edged nature of AI—its potential benefits and risks—alongside the necessity for media literacy and innovative solutions to combat misinformation.