Microsoft Research

News Brief

Microsoft and Univ. of Washington join Georgia Tech team in $25M DNA data storage project

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AI2 joins forces with Microsoft Research to upgrade search tools for scientific studies

by Alan Boyle on December 5, 2018December 5, 2018 at 5:00 pmComment

The Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, also known as AI2, is partnering with Microsoft Research to widen the sphere of scientific search tools by connecting AI2’s Semantic Scholar academic search… Read More

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Slowly but surely, the internet of things is rewriting the Farmers’ Almanac as agriculture connects

by Tom Krazit on November 21, 2018November 15, 2018 at 6:14 amComment

One of the first industries to grasp the potential of the internet of things was agriculture, where changing weather and soil conditions across vast fields can cost farmers a lot… Read More

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Microsoft is turning down some sales over AI ethics, top researcher Eric Horvitz says

by Alan Boyle on April 9, 2018April 11, 2018 at 8:15 amComment

Concerns over the potential abuse of artificial intelligence technology have led Microsoft to cut off significant sales, says Eric Horvitz, technical fellow and director at Microsoft Research Labs. Horvitz laid out… Read More

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Microsoft’s new portable smart mat aims to beam real items into the digital world

by Nat Levy on April 9, 2018April 9, 2018 at 3:56 pmComment

Microsoft’s research arm is working on a portable mat that can sense objects and then project them on to a smart device or computer screen, with a goal of closing… Read More

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Microsoft and UPMC unveil virtual AI assistant that listens in and takes notes on doctor’s visits

by Clare McGrane on February 28, 2018February 28, 2018 at 10:17 am 3 Comments

Every day, doctors and nurses across the country do a complicated dance around patient care. They turn back and forth as a mother describes her child’s symptoms, trying to listen… Read More

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DNA data storage system rises past 400 megabytes — find out how to store yours

by Alan Boyle on February 20, 2018February 20, 2018 at 5:40 pmComment

Scientists from the University of Washington and Microsoft are improving their system for preserving digital data in strands of synthetic DNA — and they’re giving you the chance to participate. The… Read More

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Former Microsoft Research chief Rick Rashid on the rise of ‘invisible’ tech, robotics, AI, and Pittsburgh

by Todd Bishop on February 12, 2018February 12, 2018 at 8:18 amComment

PITTSBURGH — So much has changed, in this city and in the technology world, since Rick Rashid arrived in 1979 as a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University. Pittsburgh… Read More

Geek of the Week: Take a break, and read about Jaime Teevan’s Microsoft research on working less

by Kurt Schlosser on January 26, 2018January 26, 2018 at 9:43 am 3 Comments

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is famous for creating a culture of workaholics in the early days of the software giant. He tracked the comings and goings of employees by memorizing… Read More

The art of artificial intelligence: Microsoft bot draws what you describe, pixel by pixel

by Alan Boyle on January 18, 2018January 18, 2018 at 9:54 pmComment

Want to order up a drawing? Say you want a picture of a bird with a yellow crown and black rings around its eyes. Or a still life showing swirls… Read More

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It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Microsoft using artificial intelligence to teach a machine to stay aloft

by Kurt Schlosser on August 16, 2017August 16, 2017 at 9:50 amComment

Paying attention to the “rise of the machines” increasingly means scanning the skies for things other than conventional aircraft or birds. But what if the line between the two begins… Read More

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Human and computer vision unite to help Microsoft engineers stop traffic deaths

by Lisa Stiffler on June 1, 2017June 1, 2017 at 8:26 am 2 Comments

In the U.S., car crashes kill roughly 40,000 people a year. That’s a loss of life equivalent to four to five 737 airplanes crashing every week. “In no other setting… Read More

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Microsoft’s next-generation HoloLens glasses may make you look like Clark Kent

by Alan Boyle on May 22, 2017May 22, 2017 at 3:56 pm1 Comment

Today, Microsoft’s HoloLens augmented-reality headset has a geeky RoboCop vibe, but someday it could become more like a pair of eyeglasses suitable for Superman’s mild-mannered alter ego. At least that’s the impression you’re likely… Read More

Tech Moves: Meet Microsoft Research Labs’ new director; Accolade adds key execs; and more

by Clare McGrane on May 9, 2017May 9, 2017 at 6:00 pmComment

In a surprise move last week, Jeannette Wing — a noted computer scientist and corporate vice president of Microsoft Research — announced she would be stepping down from her role at the Redmond,… Read More

UW, Microsoft and Twist Bioscience double down on DNA data storage experiments

by Alan Boyle on April 17, 2017April 17, 2017 at 10:58 amComment

Twist Bioscience says it’s extending its collaboration with Microsoft and the University of Washington on a project aimed at perfecting a process for encoding digital data in DNA molecules. In… Read More

IBM plans to deliver ‘industry first’ quantum computers via the cloud

by Geof Wheelwright on March 6, 2017March 6, 2017 at 10:47 amComment

IBM today unveiled plans to build commercially-available quantum computer systems for business and science that will be accessed via the IBM Cloud. Known as “IBM Q”, these quantum systems will be… Read More

Microsoft’s Cortana will now keep you accountable for promises you forgot you made

by Monica Nickelsburg on February 9, 2017February 9, 2017 at 8:02 amComment

Cortana wants you to keep your promises. Microsoft’s virtual assistant, available on platforms including Windows 10, iOS and Android, has some new capabilities to help users stay on top of commitments… Read More

Microsoft researchers lay down a big bet on topological quantum computers

by Alan Boyle on November 21, 2016November 21, 2016 at 11:27 am1 Comment

Microsoft says it’s moving ahead from just talking about quantum computing to building an actual quantum computer, based on the physics that won a Nobel Prize this year. The project… Read More

Microsoft’s cancer moonshot: Debug the disease as if it’s a computer glitch

by Alan Boyle on September 21, 2016September 21, 2016 at 10:56 am1 Comment

Microsoft researchers are doing a bug bash on cancer, complete with software code names like “Project Hanover.” Some of them are actually drilling down into our genetic code, looking for… Read More

Video: GeekWire’s 5 most buzzworthy stories of August, on New Day NW

by GeekWire on August 31, 2016August 31, 2016 at 7:23 pmComment

GeekWire’s Monica Nickelsburg caught up with New Day NW host Margaret Larson to share some of our hottest stories from August. Between the inexplicable rise in bookstore sales, Microsoft and… Read More

Microsoft Research and MIT unveil DuoSkin, the latest in smart tattoos

by Alan Boyle on August 15, 2016August 15, 2016 at 11:14 am 2 Comments

Smart tattoos made out of super-thin electronics have been a thing for years, but now the technology is getting closer to fashionable prime time. Microsoft Research has joined forces with MIT… Read More

Microsoft tries to outdo Apple with new AI-powered iPhone camera app

by Nat Levy on July 27, 2016July 27, 2016 at 9:02 am 4 Comments

In a bid to improve on the native iPhone camera app, Microsoft Research today released a new smart camera app for iPhone, Microsoft Pix, that specializes in photos of people and uses… Read More

Video: Microsoft Research touches on something big with hand gesture recognition

by Kurt Schlosser on June 27, 2016June 27, 2016 at 11:50 amComment

The desire to reach out and touch objects in virtual reality appears to be becoming a much more realistic prospect thanks to hand-tracking technology being developed by Microsoft Research. A new… Read More

Microsoft analysis of search data could lead to method of alerting people to seek medical guidance

by Kurt Schlosser on June 8, 2016June 8, 2016 at 1:17 pmComment

Searching the internet for more information on medical symptoms you’re suffering from may not be the best way to address a real health concern. But the data from those search queries has proven… Read More

Second-opinion software: Microsoft’s Eric Horvitz on how AI can save patients’ lives

by Alan Boyle on June 7, 2016June 7, 2016 at 1:40 pmComment

Someday soon, your physician may be second-guessed by an artificial intelligence program – and you’ll probably be healthier for it, according to Microsoft Research’s Eric Horvitz. Horvitz, a research fellow and managing… Read More

Good morning, sunshine: Microsoft project helps your plants talk back

by Kurt Schlosser on June 3, 2016June 3, 2016 at 10:54 am 2 Comments

Your house plants are definitely sending you a message when they wilt or drop leaves on the floor. But what if they could actually “speak” to you and convey how… Read More

Microsoft Research shows off ‘Star Wars’ holoportation with HoloLens

by Alan Boyle on March 29, 2016March 29, 2016 at 10:29 am1 Comment

As Microsoft gets set to ship its HoloLens development kit, it’s previewing a “Star Wars” application called holoportation that takes full advantage of the mixed-reality headset. The effect is like that scene in the… Read More

Microsoft’s Minecraft to be used as artificial intelligence testing ground

by Greg Sandoval on March 14, 2016March 14, 2016 at 8:28 am1 Comment

Minecraft will be the backbone for a new platform designed to help test and improve artificial intelligence applications, Microsoft announced on Monday. The new platform, called AIX, will be made… Read More

Get in touch with the stratosphere through Microsoft’s Pegasus II balloon mission

by Alan Boyle on February 22, 2016February 23, 2016 at 2:52 pmComment

How high can the Internet of Things go? Microsoft Research plans to extend the IoT into the stratosphere with its Pegasus II high-altitude balloon experiment, and you’re invited to take… Read More

Cortana gains scheduling smarts as Microsoft pushes research group to get projects out of the lab

by James Risley on January 25, 2016January 25, 2016 at 10:47 amComment

Personal assistants of the world beware: Cortana just learned another one of your tricks. Microsoft’s AI assistant for Windows 10 will soon be able to scan emails to provide users with… Read More

Microsoft Research

Microsoft and Univ. of Washington join Georgia Tech team in $25M DNA data storage project

AI2 joins forces with Microsoft Research to upgrade search tools for scientific studies

Slowly but surely, the internet of things is rewriting the Farmers’ Almanac as agriculture connects

Microsoft is turning down some sales over AI ethics, top researcher Eric Horvitz says

Microsoft’s new portable smart mat aims to beam real items into the digital world

Microsoft and UPMC unveil virtual AI assistant that listens in and takes notes on doctor’s visits

DNA data storage system rises past 400 megabytes — find out how to store yours

Former Microsoft Research chief Rick Rashid on the rise of ‘invisible’ tech, robotics, AI, and Pittsburgh

Geek of the Week: Take a break, and read about Jaime Teevan’s Microsoft research on working less

The art of artificial intelligence: Microsoft bot draws what you describe, pixel by pixel

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Microsoft using artificial intelligence to teach a machine to stay aloft

Microsoft’s next-generation HoloLens glasses may make you look like Clark Kent

Tech Moves: Meet Microsoft Research Labs’ new director; Accolade adds key execs; and more

UW, Microsoft and Twist Bioscience double down on DNA data storage experiments

IBM plans to deliver ‘industry first’ quantum computers via the cloud

Microsoft’s Cortana will now keep you accountable for promises you forgot you made

Microsoft researchers lay down a big bet on topological quantum computers

Video: GeekWire’s 5 most buzzworthy stories of August, on New Day NW

Microsoft Research and MIT unveil DuoSkin, the latest in smart tattoos

Microsoft tries to outdo Apple with new AI-powered iPhone camera app

Video: Microsoft Research touches on something big with hand gesture recognition

Microsoft analysis of search data could lead to method of alerting people to seek medical guidance

Second-opinion software: Microsoft’s Eric Horvitz on how AI can save patients’ lives

Good morning, sunshine: Microsoft project helps your plants talk back

Microsoft Research shows off ‘Star Wars’ holoportation with HoloLens

Microsoft’s Minecraft to be used as artificial intelligence testing ground

Get in touch with the stratosphere through Microsoft’s Pegasus II balloon mission

Cortana gains scheduling smarts as Microsoft pushes research group to get projects out of the lab

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