Pablo Castro, a distinguished engineer at Microsoft working on the Azure AI platform, shares insights on the inner workings of generative AI, AI search, and Microsoft’s approach to building these systems with developers in mind. He discusses three trends he is excited about, including longer context length models, faster AI models, and increasing sophistication of retrieval systems. Castro hints at upcoming developments from Microsoft, focusing on a significant shift in the scalability of retrieval systems for generative AI apps.
To address concerns around the cost of scale, Castro is working to ensure that economic limitations do not restrict the amount of data applied to artificial intelligence models. Microsoft’s Azure AI platform aims to lower friction for customers in creating end-to-end AI experiences and help them integrate AI reliably at scale in secure production environments. The company is focused on making it easier for customers to acquire, prepare data, and improve outcomes.
Castro’s role at Microsoft Azure AI involves integrating language models with knowledge representation to apply advanced technology to business problems. He emphasizes the importance of learning from customers who are using Azure AI technologies for real business priorities. The challenges for 2024 are shifting from demos and proofs of concept to production, with a focus on scalability, security, and system performance to meet customer needs effectively.
Regarding AI data and security, customers often question whether Azure OpenAI will use their data for training or learning purposes. Castro assures that Microsoft does not train on customer data, learn from it, or use it to improve models. The company prioritizes data privacy and does not keep customer data for AI training purposes. The future of work involves technologies like Copilot that extend human capabilities and allow for more efficient and innovative workflows in collaboration with AI systems.
Overall, Pablo Castro’s work at Microsoft focuses on advancing AI technologies, improving scalability and performance, and ensuring data privacy and security. Microsoft Azure AI is dedicated to making AI more accessible and seamless for customers, reducing friction in creating AI experiences, and enabling large-scale integration in secure production environments. The trends Castro is excited about in AI, including longer context length models and faster AI models, are shaping the future of artificial intelligence applications and their impact on business operations.
