Home > Companies > C-Suite On Deck > Microsoft's Director of AI and Innovation, Nicholas McQuire, explores AI's potential to solve society's and Science's biggest problems

Microsoft's Director of AI and Innovation, Nicholas McQuire, explores AI's potential to solve society's and Science's biggest problems

We had the opportunity to speak to Nicholas McQuire, the former Chief of Research at CCS Insight, as he embarks on his new journey as the Director of AI and Innovation at Microsoft. Read on to find out how companies can leverage a market that's undergoing constant digitization by embracing change and banking heavily on data.

When applied correctly, AI will be hugely assistive for people from every nation, background, and digital ability.

MEDIA 7: Congratulations on your new role at Microsoft! Before we dig in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
NICHOLAS MCQUIRE: Thanks!! It’s very exciting! I have always loved learning about how businesses apply new technologies to innovate, change how they work, and succeed in their respective markets. This fascination actually dates back to when writing my master’s thesis at university, before I even began my career - believe it or not! It all crystallized when I got my first job, fresh out of grad school, where I had the privilege of working in a tech startup incubator and early-stage VC firm. They took a chance on hiring me as a fresh-faced graduate. The range of innovation, and types of businesses and sectors across Europe and the US that I got to work with back then, was just mind-blowing to me so early on in my career. From then on, I was hooked on enterprise technology. I, then, went on to become an analyst and the rest is history.

M7: What an inspiring story! You have actually been a technological analyst for over 20 years. How do you see this experience influence your current role at Microsoft?
NM: I think there will be a lot of cross-over. My new role, at its core, will be to help Microsoft expand its thought leadership for business leaders in the complementary fields of AI and innovation as both these has now become top priorities for businesses across the planet and it’s our job to help them succeed in both areas. A big part of this effort will be to help the business community better understand and leverage the fantastic work that Microsoft Research is doing in advanced technology science and in several important fields of AI technologies.

Back in 2005-2006, I got quite ill suddenly and was diagnosed as a type 1 Diabetic which exposed me personally to the advances in technology research that could help me deal with my illness. This has always inspired me to focus more of my research as an analyst and advisory to C-level executive clients in these areas. At the heart of what we do as tech analysts are storytelling. So, I believe, that this element, plus my experience in advanced research in AI and business strategy, will all come together in the new role.

Overall, though I’m optimistic about what the future holds for AI, I think the greatest positive from AI's advancement will mean that the ability for computers to learn to interpret us as opposed to us having to continuously learn and interpret computers.

M7: So, as the new Director of AI and Innovation at Microsoft, what is your vision?
NM: At Microsoft, we believe AI has the power to augment human ingenuity— it is the core to our mission of empowering every person and organization on the planet to achieve more. We’re focused on democratizing access to AI, empowering developers to innovate, industries to transform, and helping every person change society for the better. Even more specifically, just as every company today is a software company, every business will soon become an AI business. Ultimately, our aim is to help organizations make this transition, foster innovation, and ultimately succeed in their industries with AI.

M7: Speaking of digital transition and innovation, what do you think is essential to stay competitive in a market that is going through constant digitalization?
NM: Recently, I had the honor of being on the judging panel for the UK CIO of Year Awards 2021. And this critical question was one that came across in many of the leading submissions, after such a turbulent year with many changing business priorities. Essentially, what we observed is that leading, competitive firms in today’s climate have several attributes. They have strong leadership and a culture that embraces change, experimentation, and above all innovation. They embrace data to inform business decisions as well as the cloud to support the need for agility and resilience. They also partner well both within their industries and outside of them with large firms and startup organizations. There are other factors of course, but often it’s the various combinations of these elements that are the key attributes.

Read More: UTU’s Founder & CEO, Jason Eisen advises increasing customer trust for generating better revenue

At the heart of what we do as tech analysts are storytelling.

M7: That's an insightful take! With AI taking over the world, what are your predictions on AI changing our future in the next few years?
NM: There are so many areas of development - it’s really fascinating. There’s progress to come, for example, in transformer architectures and large-scale AI models, in reinforcement learning, multimodality, sustainable AI, or in human-to-machine interaction, to name a few. But there are many challenges to overcome as well, such as accessibility of the technology, misinformation, privacy, and ethical challenges with its advancement. Overall, though I’m optimistic about what the future holds for AI, I think the greatest positive from AI'sadvancement will mean that the ability for computers to learn to interpret us as opposed to us having to continuously learn and interpret computers. When applied correctly, AI will be hugely assistive for people from every nation, background, and digital ability. I believe it also has the potential to contribute towards solving some of society’s and science’s greatest problems, which is a hugely exciting prospect!

M7: AI surely does have endless potential! Lastly, how would you define your leadership style?
NM: I’ve had a few amazing leaders in my career who have taught me a lot and there are many aspects to this question - strong leadership, coaching, mentoring, always being available and supporting, empowering, and respecting, to name a few. But the biggest thing that I have reacted to in a great manager is the ability to inspire and to help me to produce my best work. I remember someone mentioning to me a while ago, ��There are many companies grossly over-managed and severely under-led,” which I think sums it up nicely. Whilst I am by no means an expert in this area, I have always kept these elements in my mind over the years from some of my great leaders, managers, and mentors, in the past.

Read More: 'There is a revenue relationship between marketing and sales,' says Debbie Qaqish, Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at The Pedowitz Group

ABOUT MICROSOFT

Microsoft enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. It believes that technology can and should be a force for good and that meaningful innovation can and will contribute to a brighter world in big and small ways. It thrives on diverse voices and engage its employees’ and customers’ experiences, strengths, and different points of view to inform, challenge, and stretch our thinking.

It believes that technology is a powerful force for good and are working to foster a sustainable future where everyone has access to the benefits and opportunities created by technology. It believes that, when designed with people at the center, AI can extend your capabilities, free you up for more creative and strategic endeavors, and help you or your organization achieve more. It delivers secure, private, and reliable computing experiences based on sound business practices.

More C-Suite on deck

Internet Connectivity Without Complexity: Greg Davis shares Bigleaf's journey

Media 7 | July 19, 2023

Greg Davis is a senior executive with a 25-year track record of scaling businesses and creating enterprise value through strategic revitalization, increased profitability, decreased working capital needs, and revenue growth. Read more to know about his thoughts on importance of content syndication practices in IT industry.

‘Intelligent Automation has the potential to save over 10 million lives each year,’ says Aera Technology’s Pascal Bornet

Media 7 | April 5, 2022

Pascal Bornet, Chief Data Officer at Aera Technology sheds light on his first guide book ‘Intelligent Automation’ and Industry 4.0 revolution. Read on to know more about his thoughts on improving customer experience, the impact of automation on knowledge workers and IA transformations in his latest interview with Media 7.

'Over the next five years, the role of analytics and big data will become increasingly critical for businesses, says Dan Fiehn, COO at Incited.

Media 7 | March 28, 2022

Dan Fiehn, Chief Operating Officer at Incited, elaborates on how Incited is accelerating insurers' digital journeys with their platform IMMERSA365. Read on to know more about his thoughts on the impact of Big Data and navigating complex ESG agenda.

Internet Connectivity Without Complexity: Greg Davis shares Bigleaf's journey

Media 7 | July 19, 2023

‘Intelligent Automation has the potential to save over 10 million lives each year,’ says Aera Technology’s Pascal Bornet

Media 7 | April 5, 2022

'Over the next five years, the role of analytics and big data will become increasingly critical for businesses, says Dan Fiehn, COO at Incited.

Media 7 | March 28, 2022

Software

Lynx Software Technologies Announces Acquisition of Thompson Software Solutions

Lynx Software Technologies | January 10, 2024

Lynx Software Technologies (Lynx), a leader in the development of foundational, open architecture software solutions for the Mission Critical Edge, today announced the acquisition of Thompson Software Solutions, LLC. (TSS), a provider of software development, engineering, and integration solutions to mission-critical aerospace and defense (A&D) platforms, spanning military and commercial fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, commercial space flight, hypersonic platforms, and command-and-control systems. Its customers include the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), prime integrators, A&D original equipment manufacturers, and commercial space companies. Since its founding in 2004, TSS has delivered technical capabilities and strategic insights to enable innovative software products requiring the highest reliability, security, and performance standards. With expertise spanning high-integrity software architecture and development, DevSecOps, cybersecurity, airworthiness certifications, open systems architecture, simulation and training, and AI and machine learning, customers across the A&D end-markets rely upon TSS to provide strategic guidance, differentiated technical capabilities, and a deep understanding of mission requirements. TSS’s Chief Executive Officer, Les Thompson, and Chief Strategy Officer, Patrick McClellen, have taken on senior roles within Lynx following the close of the transaction. The combination of Lynx and TSS creates a scaled provider of mission-critical software solutions for customers with complex interoperability, safety, and security challenges. Lynx’s foundational software products, open-source expertise, productivity- and security-enhancing development tools, highly technical software engineering services, delivered via both professional and managed services business models, and its highly skilled and security-cleared employee base combine to create a platform company uniquely positioned to support the full software development lifecycle for clients in aerospace, defense, and other heavily regulated end-markets. “The TSS team has built the company on a solid foundation of trusted customer relationships, innovative and cutting-edge technical capabilities, and flawless execution. With TSS’s high-value and differentiated software development and integration capabilities, we will be better equipped to enable aerospace and defense OEMs and prime integrators to accelerate the design, development, and deployment of their products and platforms,” commented Tim Reed, Chief Executive Officer of Lynx. “As we end 2023, Lynx’s portfolio of solutions spans from the operating system to the application layer, certifiable real-time, to general purpose and open-source, and from commercial-off-the-shelf (“COTS”) to government-off-the-shelf (“GOTS”) software products. I’m thrilled to work with Les and the TSS team as we continue delivering comprehensive and unique software-enabled solutions to customers whose needs extend from the development pipeline to the Mission Critical Edge.” “Throughout my twenty years leading TSS, we’ve been consistently committed to delivering robust software solutions that meet the stringent requirements of our customers while ensuring they can stay on schedule and budget,” commented Les Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of TSS. “From our first discussions with Tim and the Lynx team, it became clear that Lynx is not just a vendor looking to push products but a committed, mission-oriented partner with the same objectives we have here at TSS, which includes continuing to deliver on our shared goal of providing resilient, secure, and performant software solutions targeted at the most demanding mission-critical environments.” “The combination of Lynx and TSS creates a software solutions platform placed at the center of priority aerospace and defense investment areas, notably open standards, modularity, and security. Like TSS, Lynx has an established track record of exceeding customer expectations with its innovation, performance, and value proposition. As a combined company, Lynx and TSS are well-positioned to grow as our clients continue to execute on the software modernization, integration, and development priorities,” commented Patrick McClellen, Chief Strategy Officer of TSS. About Lynx Software Technologies Lynx Software Technologies is on a mission to improve the economics of developing, deploying, and maintaining high-assurance Mission Critical Edge platforms with modular software solutions based on open standards. Our proven technology leadership, extensive system certification expertise, and commitment to open standards have consistently saved our customers millions of dollars in development costs while delivering desired system performance, security, and reliability on schedule. Lynx is committed to enabling customers to build and manage orchestrated, cloud-connected platforms that harness a broad array of modern technologies and unique design methodologies to enable accurate, deterministic decisions at the Mission Critical Edge without compromising safety or cybersecurity requirements. For more information, visit www.lynx.com. About Thompson Software Solutions Founded in 2004 with locations in Atlanta, GA and Fort Worth, TX, the Thompson Software Solutions team understands what is required to develop, integrate, test, and deploy software with a safety-critical pedigree while meeting the challenges of modernization and digital transformation. Our team of proven and dedicated employees takes pride in our ability to react quickly and produce quality solutions to difficult technical challenges. We work with partners to find the right path to meet operational needs while future-proofing systems with portability and sustainment considerations to ensure next-generation success. For more information, visit https://www.thompsonsoftwaresolutions.com. About OceanSound Partners OceanSound Partners is a New York-based private equity firm that pursues control investments in technology and technology-enabled services companies serving government and enterprise end markets. OceanSound employs a partnership approach, working closely with founders, entrepreneurs, and executives of middle market businesses to drive transformational growth. For more information, visit www.oceansoundpartners.com.

AI Tech

AI and Big Data Expo North America announces leading Speaker Lineup

TechEx Events | March 07, 2024

AI and Big Data Expo North America announces new speakers! SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES, February 26, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- TheAI and Big Expo North America, the leading event for Enterprise AI, Machine Learning, Security, Ethical AI, Deep Learning, Data Ecosystems, and NLP, has announced a fresh cohort of distinguishedspeakersfor its upcoming conference at the Santa Clara Convention Center on June 5-6, 2024. Some of the top industry speakers set to take the stage are: - Sam Hamilton - Head of Data & AI – Visa - Dr Astha Purohit - Director - Product (Tech) Ops – Walmart - Noorddin Taj - Head of Architecture and Design of Intelligent Operations - BP - Temi Odesanya - Director - AI Governance Automation - Thomson Reuters - Katie Sanders - Assistant Vice President – Tech - Union Pacific Railroad - Prasanth Nandanuru – SVP - Wells Fargo - Rodney Brooks - Professor Emeritus - MIT These esteemed speakers bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to an already impressive lineup, promising attendees a truly enlightening experience. In addition to the speakers, theAI and Big Data Expo North Americawill feature a series of presentations covering a diverse range of topics in AI and Big Data exploring the latest innovations, implementations and strategies across a range of industries. Attendees can expect to gain valuable insights and practical strategies from presentations such as: How Gen AI Positively Augments Workforce Capabilities Trends in Computer Vision: Applications, Datasets, and Models Getting to Production-Ready: Challenges and Best Practices for Deploying AI Ensuring Your AI is Responsible and Ethical Mitigating Bias and Promoting Fairness in AI Systems Security Challenges in the Era of Gen AI and Data Science AI for Good: Social Impact and Ethics Selling Data Democratization to Executives Spreading Data Insights across the Business Barriers to Overcome: People, Processes, and Technology Optimizing the Customer Experience with AI Using AI to Drive Growth in a Regulated Industry Building an MLOps Foundation for AI at Scale The Expo offers a platform for exploration and discovery, showcasing how cutting-edge technologies are reshaping a myriad of industries, including manufacturing, transport, supply chain, government, legal sectors, financial services, energy, utilities, insurance, healthcare, retail, and more. Attendees will have the chance to witness firsthand the transformative power of AI and Big Data across various sectors, gaining insights that are crucial for staying ahead in today's rapidly evolving technological landscape. Anticipating a turnout of over 7000 attendees and featuring 200 speakers across various tracks, AI and Big Data Expo North America offers a unique opportunity for CTO’s, CDO’s, CIO’s , Heads of IOT, AI /ML, IT Directors and tech enthusiasts to stay abreast of the latest trends and innovations in AI, Big Data and related technologies. Organized by TechEx Events, the conference will also feature six co-located events, including the IoT Tech Expo, Intelligent Automation Conference, Cyber Security & Cloud Congress, Digital Transformation Week, and Edge Computing Expo, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of the technological landscape. Attendees can choose from various ticket options, providing access to engaging sessions, the bustling expo floor, premium tracks featuring industry leaders, a VIP networking party, and a sophisticated networking app facilitating connections ahead of the event. Secure your ticket with a 25% discount on tickets, available until March 31st, 2024. Save up to $300 on your ticket and be part of the conversation shaping the future of AI and Big Data technologies. For more information and to secure your place at AI and Big Data Expo North America, please visit https://www.ai-expo.net/northamerica/. About AI and Big Data Expo North America: The AI and Big Data Expo North America is a leading event in the AI and Big Data landscape, serving as a nexus for professionals, industry experts, and enthusiasts to explore and navigate the ever-evolving technological frontier. Through its focus on education, networking, and collaboration, the Expo continues to be a beacon for those eager to stay at the forefront of technological innovation. “AI and Big Data Expo North Americais a part ofTechEx. For more information regardingTechExplease see onlinehere.”

Future Tech

Zendesk signs definitive agreement to acquire Klaus

Zendesk | January 08, 2024

Zendesk today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Klaus, the industry leading AI-powered quality management platform. AI is driving a rapid increase in customer interactions and radically transforming the world of customer service. Customer service teams are being asked to increase their ROI by managing a rising volume of interactions while providing quality service, and increasing their organization's efficiency in the process. With Klaus, Zendesk customers will be able to deliver consistent, high quality service across every channel and across both human and digital agents (bots) – all while unlocking the power of everyday customer interactions to increase loyalty. "As AI drives up the speed and frequency of customer engagement, only AI-powered quality assurance (QA) can keep up as companies work to identify and fix gaps in their customer service operations," said Adrian McDermott, chief technology officer, Zendesk. "The combination of Zendesk AI and Klaus' capabilities will help businesses navigate greater complexity and volume and ensure both digital and human agents deliver highly personal and empathetic service." "Zendesk and Klaus share a vision of AI-led, personalized CX with businesses fully anticipating and acting on their customers' needs," said Martin Kõiva, CEO and founder, Klaus. "QA software plays a critical role in this, ensuring consistency, assessing both human and digital agent performance and providing actionable insights for strategic planning. As part of Zendesk, we will continue to build and deliver these crucial capabilities, but now at an even greater scale." With digital agents resolving more service inquiries without human interaction, having a QA solution that analyzes both human and digital agent performance is crucial to maintaining quality control and providing best-in-class customer service. While most QA software is capable of only scoring 1 to 2 percent of interactions and cannot recognize systemic trends, Klaus' AI scores 100 percent of customer support interactions. It pinpoints conversations with positive or negative sentiment, identifies outliers, churn risk, escalations and follow-ups across all conversations – even those done by digital agents or outsourced teams. Klaus spots knowledge gaps and coaching opportunities that can be used to improve agent performance and productivity, all of which results in higher customer satisfaction. WEM is a critical capability for today's customer service leaders. The acquisition of Klaus will be the latest addition to the company's existing workforce engagement management (WEM) solutions which includes Tymeshift, a modern workforce management tool built exclusively for Zendesk. The company acquired Tymeshift in June 2023. The acquisition of Klaus is anticipated to close in the first quarter of 2024 upon receipt of required regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. About Zendesk Zendesk is on a mission to simplify the complexity of business and make it easy for companies and customers to create connections. Our customer experience software unlocks the power of billions of interactions, enabling businesses to build rich, meaningful relationships with their customers. The company was conceived in Copenhagen, Denmark and today operates in more than 20 countries around the world. About Klaus Klaus is an AI-powered quality management platform that helps companies drive revenue through excellent customer service. Headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia, Klaus was founded in 2018 by Martin Kõiva, Kair Käsper and Egon Sale and has nearly 100 employees.