AI has made remarkable progress in recent years, but turning experimental models into tools that work in the real world is still a major challenge. Bridging this gap between innovation and application has shaped the career of Xinxing Xu, principal researcher at Microsoft Research Asia – Singapore, and underpins the mission of the lab’s newly established presence in the region. Xinxing Xu, Principal Researcher, Microsoft Research Asia – Singapore “Innovative algorithms can only demonstrate their true value when tested with […]

As large language models (LLMs) become foundational to modern AI systems, the ability to run them at scale—efficiently, reliably, and in near real-time—is no longer a nice-to-have.  

AMANDA CRAIG DECKARD: Thank you so much. SULLIVAN: In our intro episode, you really helped set the stage for this series. And it’s been great, because since then, we’ve had the pleasure of speaking with governance experts about genome editing, pharma, medical devices, cybersecurity, and we’ve also gotten to spend some time with our own Microsoft responsible AI leaders and hear reflections from them. And here’s what stuck with me, and I’d love to hear from you on this, as […]

Large language models (LLMs) can solve complex puzzles in seconds, yet they sometimes struggle over simple conversations. When these AI tools make assumptions, overlook key details, or neglect to ask clarifying questions, the result can erode trust and derail real-world interactions, where nuance is everything. A key reason these models behave this  

CIARAN MARTIN: Well, thanks so much for inviting me. It’s great to be here. SULLIVAN: Ciaran, before we get into some regulatory specifics, it’d be great to hear a little bit more about your origin story, and just take us to that day—who tapped you on the shoulder and said, “Ciaran, we need you to run a national cyber center! Do you fancy building one?” MARTIN: You could argue that I owe my job to Edward Snowden. Not an obvious […]

Daphne Koller is the CEO and founder of Insitro, a machine learning-driven drug discovery and development company that recently made news for its identification of a novel drug target for ALS and its collaboration with Eli Lilly to license Lilly’s biochemical delivery systems. Prior to founding Insitro, Daphne was the co-founder, co-CEO, and president of the online education platform Coursera. Noubar Afeyan is the founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering, which creates biotechnology companies focused on transforming human health and […]

DANIEL CARPENTER: Thanks for having me.  SULLIVAN: Dan, before we dissect policy, let’s rewind the tape to your origin story. Can you take us to the moment that you first became fascinated with regulators rather than, say, politicians? Was there a spark that pulled you toward the FDA story?  CARPENTER: At one point during graduate school, I was studying a combination of American politics and political theory, and I did a summer interning at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. And I began to think, why […]

ALTA CHARO: It’s my pleasure. Thanks for having me. SULLIVAN: Alta, I’d love to begin by stepping back in time a bit before you became a leading figure in bioethics and legal policy. You’ve shared that your interest in science was really inspired by your brothers’ interest in the topic and that your upbringing really helped shape your perseverance and resilience. Can you talk to us about what put you on the path to law and policy? CHARO: Well, I […]

In our ever-evolving journey to enhance healthcare through  

[MUSIC ENDS]   For our introductory episode, I’m pleased to welcome Amanda Craig Deckard from Microsoft to discuss the company’s efforts to learn about testing in other sectors.   Amanda is senior director of public policy in the Office of Responsible AI, where she leads a team that works closely with engineers, researchers, and policy experts to help ensure AI is being developed and used responsibly. Their insights shape Microsoft’s contribution to public policy discussions on laws, norms, and standards for AI.   […]