Review: Microsoft’s AI Tour in Toronto, Dec. 2024
Microsoft's demonstration of AI
During the keynote presentation, “Leading in the age of AI transformation” with Chris Barry (Microsoft Canada President) and Alysa Taylor (Microsoft Chief Marketing Officer), Microsoft demonstrated the range of uses for its Azure AI Foundry platform. One of the demonstrations showcased how the platform can be used to help select outdoor camping gear for braving the Canadian winter. The demo appeared to be carried out in real-time, with the AI agent responding audibly to the presenter’s questions that had been provided in text. However, as the presenter began to describe to the audience that they would be asking the AI agent to have the information delivered to them over a phone call – a ringtone for that phone call began playing before that text prompt could be delivered.
This demo hiccup is a reminder that we should remain cautiously optimistic of what AI is reportedly capable of performing right now. Microsoft provided other videos showcasing how they have made AI more accessible to a wide range of users. Specifically, Microsoft highlighted the following four key trends on how their AI solutions have been able to help their customers:
- Improve business productivity
- Have a better omnichannel experience
- Improve business processes
- Develop AI-driven innovation
While the event provided an excellent opportunity for Microsoft, their exhibitors, and their partners to present the various functions of their AI offering that many businesses and consumers will be focusing on soon, it was interesting to see that Microsoft had a panel to discuss sustainability. The panel itself brought some attention to Microsoft’s Green Software Principles, which include the need for carbon awareness and software and hardware energy efficiency, what tools Microsoft’s AI platform has available to reduce and track carbon emissions, and what goals the company has in the coming future to reduce its environmental impact. Microsoft had recently announced (alongside Amazon and Google) that it would be looking to develop its own private nuclear power plants.
Our Take
While Microsoft is fully committed to AI, it was surprising that they did not take adequate steps to prevent errors during their supposedly real-time demo. Despite this incident, Microsoft appears to be well situated in the market where they are perceived as a leader in AI; this is unlike Google, when they simulated one of their “live” LLM demos to poor reception.
Additionally, as the event was in Toronto, it was nice to see that Cohere, a leader in developing LLMs with its headquarters in Toronto, Canada, was highlighted at the event.
Finally, Microsoft’s plans to use nuclear power to meet the high compute demands for AI and achieve 100% renewable energy was expected. However, it is puzzling why they chose to re-boot the old Three Mile Island nuclear installation, while both Google and Amazon announced plans to leverage Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) for nuclear power. Both Google and Amazon cited greater safety and flexibility in pursuing SMRs. Instead, Microsoft appears to have chosen to invest in the company Constellation, to restart Three Mile Island and hit the ground running.