The AI Conversation Is Just Beginning

Microsoft Senior Director of Public Policy Presents on the State of AI

Following Microsoft’s recent $3.3 billion investment into its data center campus in Mount Pleasant, Ryan Harkins, the company’s Senior Director of Public Policy, provided local business leaders a look back at the history of artificial intelligence, a peak into its promise as a game-changing business tool and provided insight into the steps his company is taking to provide safeguards during “The State of AI” at We Energies.

Harkins opened with a simple question: “Why all the buzz?”

Harkins first pointed to new and sophisticated algorithms. The latest programs are increasingly better at recognizing data patterns and correlations.

He also pointed out the cost of data is the cheapest it has ever been, and anticipates the cost to drop even further.

“In the eighties it would have cost you over a billion United States dollars to store every book that had ever been written in the history of humankind,” said Harkins. “Last year you could do that for under a grand. We expect in the near future you will be able to do that for a few hundred dollars.”

Harkins highlighted processing power, as well. The speed at which we can process unimaginable amounts of data is faster than ever before.

“Every one of us is carrying a supercomputer in our pockets that can process billions of instructions per second,” he said.

While the prospect of integrating AI into work processes is exciting, important questions and concerns surrounding ethics and responsible use of the tool continue to surface.

Harkins said Microsoft built its AI software with a deep awareness of, and care for, the way that the technology is used, said Harkins. The company outlines its efforts with its Responsible AI Standard. Harkins went further to address the need for laws and regulations surrounding AI on both the state and federal level. He provided Colorado as an example of a state who is ahead of the curve, passing legislation on AI.