Microsoft Research Podcast

Ideas: Community building, machine learning, and the future of AI 

December 1, 2025 | Jenn Wortman Vaughan and Hanna Wallach
As the Women in Machine Learning Workshop (WiML) marks its 20th annual gathering, cofounders, friends, and collaborators Jenn Wortman Vaughan and Hanna Wallach reflect on WiML’s evolution, navigating the field of ML, and their work in responsible AI.

Recent Podcasts

  1. Photo of Andrew Fitgibbon

    All Data AI with Dr. Andrew Fitzgibbon 

    June 12, 2019

    You may not know who Dr. Andrew Fitzgibbon is, but if you’ve watched a TV show or movie in the last two decades, you’ve probably seen some of his work. An expert in 3D computer vision and graphics, and head of the new All Data…

  2. Dr. Patrice Simard

    Machine teaching with Dr. Patrice Simard 

    May 29, 2019

    Episode 78, May 29, 2019- Machine learning is a powerful tool that enables computers to learn by observing the world, recognizing patterns and self-training via experience. Much like humans. But while machines perform well when they can extract knowledge from large amounts of labeled data,…

  3. a man wearing sunglasses posing for the camera

    AI for Earth with Dr. Lucas Joppa 

    April 17, 2019

    Episode 72, April 17, 2019 - We hear a lot these days about “AI for good” and the efforts of many companies to harness the power of artificial intelligence to solve some of our biggest environmental challenges. It’s rare, however, that you find a company…

  4. a woman looking at the camera

    Talking with machines with Dr. Layla El Asri 

    February 20, 2019

    Episode 64, February 20, 2019 - Dr. Layla El Asri talks about the particular challenges she and other scientists face in building sophisticated dialogue systems that lay the foundation for talking machines. She also explains how reinforcement learning, in the form of a text game…

  5. Rico Malvar, Chief Scientist and Distinguished Engineer standing in front of bushes

    Enable(ing) people to do more with Dr. Rico Malvar 

    January 30, 2019

    Episode 61, January 30, 2019 - Dr. Rico Malvar recalls his early years at a fledgling Microsoft Research, talks about the exciting work he oversees now, explains why designing with the user is as important as designing for the user, and tells us how a…

  6. Cecily Morrison

    Empowering people with AI with Dr. Cecily Morrison 

    January 23, 2019 | Cecily Morrison

    Episode 60, January 23, 2019 - Dr. Morrison gives us an overview of what she calls the “pillars” of inclusive design, shares how her research is positively impacting people with health issues and disabilities, and tells us how having a child born with blindness put…

  7. Paul Bennett

    Building contextually intelligent assistants with Dr. Paul Bennett 

    January 16, 2019

    Episode 59, January 16, 2019 - Dr. Bennett brings us up to speed on the science of contextually intelligent assistants, explains how what we think our machines can do actually shapes what we expect them to do, and shares how current research in machine learning…

  8. Hsiao-Wuen Hon wearing a suit and tie smiling at the camera

    Celebrating 20 years of MSR in Asia with Dr. Hsiao-Wuen Hon 

    November 7, 2018

    Episode 49, November 7, 2018 - Dr. Hon gives us a brief history of Microsoft Research Asia, from its humble beginnings to its significant role in the AI boom today, talks about Microsoft Research Asia’s unique talent pipeline, shares his vision for the complementary roles…

  9. Jennifer Tour Chayes posing for the camera

    Leading labs with Dr. Jennifer Chayes 

    October 10, 2018

    Episode 45, October 10, 2018 - Dr. Chayes shares her passion for the value of undirected inquiry, talks about her unlikely journey from rebel to researcher, and explains how she believes her research philosophy – more botanist than boss – prepares the fertile ground necessary…