We're witnessing history unfold right in front of our eyes with AI
Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/685 What happens when you've witnessed artificial intelligence evolve from academic skepticism to world-changing technology? Bill, Technical Director at Flow Simulation and Microsoft MVP since 2018, takes us through his remarkable 30-year journey working with computers and AI systems since the 1990s.TAKEAWAYS• First awarded MVP in 2018• Regularly speaks at international conferences about Microsoft 365, AI and Azure• Started with expert systems in the 1990s when neural networks temporarily fell out of favor• Witnessed the breakthrough of transformer architecture that revolutionized language models• Traces the evolution from GPT-2 through ChatGPT to today's multimodal models• Discusses potential future directions including copyright concerns and AI self-improvement• Values GitHub Copilot as a practical time-saving tool that amplifies productivity• Appreciates MVP program benefits including direct access to Microsoft product teams• Values the MVP community connections with technically-minded professionals worldwideFor anyone navigating today's AI-powered world, Bill's experienced voice offers invaluable context that connects past developments to our possible futures. OTHER RESOURCES: 👉 Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzf0yupPbVkqdRJDPVE4PtTlm6quDhiu7 This year we're adding a new show to our line up - The AI Advantage. We'll discuss the skills you need to thrive in an AI-enabled world. Accelerate your Microsoft career with the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge We’ve helped 1,300+ people across 70+ countries establish successful careers in the Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 ecosystem.Benefit from expert guidance, a supportive community, and a clear career roadmap. A lot can change in 90 days, get started today!Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith
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22:13
Learn It or Lose It: Navigating Uncertain Times in the Age of AI
Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/684 The technological landscape is shifting beneath our feet, and those who fail to adapt risk being left behind. This stark reality forms the backbone of our latest episode, where we explore the concept that "AI is coming for the unmotivated" - perhaps the most crucial wake-up call of our professional generation.TAKEAWAYS• Recent experiences at ColorCloud event in Hamburg and during Spain's massive power outage• Chris announces his new role at Cloud Lighthouse and ANS• Microsoft Build conference schedule reveals heavy emphasis on AI with minimal business apps content• The rise of "digital workforce" as a concept at major tech companies• "AI is coming for the unmotivated" - why continuous learning is crucial for survival• How an entire app was built using only AI prompts during a recent prompt-a-thon• The concept of "information communism" illustrated through a real-world translation service example• How professionals resist technological change rather than adapting their business models• The need for "tragic imagination" to honestly confront the challenges ahead• Why mundane, repetitive jobs will be the first to be replaced by digital workersDon't hesitate to share your perspective with us. Stay connected for more innovative ideas and strategies to enhance your software estate. Until next time, keep pushing the boundaries and creating value.This year we're adding a new show to our line up - The AI Advantage. We'll discuss the skills you need to thrive in an AI-enabled world. DynamicsMinds is a world-class event in Slovenia that brings together Microsoft product managers, industry leaders, and dedicated users to explore the latest in Microsoft Dynamics 365, the Power Platform, and Copilot.Early bird tickets are on sale now and listeners of the Microsoft Innovation Podcast get 10% off with the code MIPVIP144bff https://www.dynamicsminds.com/register/?voucher=MIPVIP144bff Accelerate your Microsoft career with the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge We’ve helped 1,300+ people across 70+ countries establish successful careers in the Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 ecosystem.Benefit from expert guidance, a supportive community, and a clear career roadmap. A lot can change in 90 days, get started today!Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith
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34:44
If there isn't a seat at the table, we build our own: How Women in Power is changing tech communities
Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/683Danielle Moon shares her journey founding Women in Power, a community that grew from noticing just eight women among 80 professionals at a Microsoft event to a thriving global network of 930+ members in less than a year.TAKEAWAYS• Starting with vulnerability and a "just start" mentality rather than waiting for perfect conditions• Building a community focused on connecting women across geographical boundaries who often experience isolation in their tech teams• Creating mentoring rings, skill-building opportunities, and networking events worldwide• Addressing the tendency for women to operate as "lone wolves" rather than leveraging collective strength• Evolving beyond the Power Platform to emphasize soft skills that remain valuable in an AI-centered world• Encouraging cross-learning between technical experts and those with relationship-building strengths• Celebrating small victories while aiming for world domination Whether you're a Power Platform professional seeking community or someone interested in building more inclusive tech spaces, this conversation offers valuable insights on creating tables where everyone can thrive. How might you apply these community-building principles in your professional sphere?OTHER RESOURCES:👉Women in Power (Platform): https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14423833/ This year we're adding a new show to our line up - The AI Advantage. We'll discuss the skills you need to thrive in an AI-enabled world. DynamicsMinds is a world-class event in Slovenia that brings together Microsoft product managers, industry leaders, and dedicated users to explore the latest in Microsoft Dynamics 365, the Power Platform, and Copilot.Early bird tickets are on sale now and listeners of the Microsoft Innovation Podcast get 10% off with the code MIPVIP144bff https://www.dynamicsminds.com/register/?voucher=MIPVIP144bff Accelerate your Microsoft career with the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge We’ve helped 1,300+ people across 70+ countries establish successful careers in the Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 ecosystem.Benefit from expert guidance, a supportive community, and a clear career roadmap. A lot can change in 90 days, get started today!Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith
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26:39
From Copilot to Change: Embracing Microsoft's Future
Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/682 Microsoft MVP Tiffany Songvilay shares her perspective on embracing technological change and preparing for an AI-powered future in the workplace. She explains her philosophy that fighting against inevitable change drains energy while adapting to Microsoft's vision positions professionals for success.TAKEAWAYS• Tiffany focuses on "whatever's new with Microsoft," currently evangelizing for Copilot while maintaining expertise in SharePoint and Viva• Building prompt engineering skills is essential for thriving in an AI world—crafting sophisticated prompts that improve quality rather than just saving time• AI will likely make certain jobs irrelevant rather than "taking" them, particularly impacting white-collar professions like legal and consulting• Corporate communications, legal, and risk management are seeing significant benefits from Copilot implementation• AI helps overcome task procrastination by making challenging work less intimidating• Future developments may eliminate the need for traditional data structures like lists, fundamentally changing information architecture• The MVP program's value comes from building relationships with product teams and advocating for client needsReady to embrace AI rather than fight against it? Listen now to discover how you can position yourself for success in Microsoft's AI-powered future—and perhaps reclaim your work-life balance in the process. OTHER RESOURCES: 👉 Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzf0yupPbVkqdRJDPVE4PtTlm6quDhiu7This year we're adding a new show to our line up - The AI Advantage. We'll discuss the skills you need to thrive in an AI-enabled world. Accelerate your Microsoft career with the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge We’ve helped 1,300+ people across 70+ countries establish successful careers in the Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 ecosystem.Benefit from expert guidance, a supportive community, and a clear career roadmap. A lot can change in 90 days, get started today!Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith
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23:34
Red Teaming and AI Safety: Navigating the Ethical Gray Areas
Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/681 The team explores the ethical implications of teaching AI jailbreaking techniques and conducting red team testing on large language models, balancing educational value against potential misuse. They dive into personal experiments with bypassing AI safeguards, revealing both creative workarounds and robust protections in modern systems. TAKEAWAYS • Debate on whether demonstrating AI vulnerabilities is responsible education or potentially dangerous knowledge sharing • Psychological impact on security professionals who regularly simulate malicious behaviors to test AI safety • Real examples of attempts to "jailbreak" AI systems through fantasy storytelling and other creative prompts • Legal gray areas in AI security testing that require dedicated legal support for organizations • Personal experiences with testing AI guardrails on different models and their varying levels of protection • Future prediction that Microsoft's per-user licensing model may shift to consumption-based as AI agents replace human tasks • Growth observations about Microsoft's Business Applications division reaching approximately $8 billion • Discussion of how M365 Copilot is transforming productivity, particularly for analyzing sales calls and customer interactions Check out this episode for more deep dives into AI safety, security, and the future of technology in business.This year we're adding a new show to our line up - The AI Advantage. We'll discuss the skills you need to thrive in an AI-enabled world. DynamicsMinds is a world-class event in Slovenia that brings together Microsoft product managers, industry leaders, and dedicated users to explore the latest in Microsoft Dynamics 365, the Power Platform, and Copilot.Early bird tickets are on sale now and listeners of the Microsoft Innovation Podcast get 10% off with the code MIPVIP144bff https://www.dynamicsminds.com/register/?voucher=MIPVIP144bff Accelerate your Microsoft career with the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge We’ve helped 1,300+ people across 70+ countries establish successful careers in the Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 ecosystem.Benefit from expert guidance, a supportive community, and a clear career roadmap. A lot can change in 90 days, get started today!Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith
If you want to get your ideas or questions featured on an episode, please leave us a voicemail: https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/voicemail/Dive into the future of work with the "Microsoft Innovation Podcast," exploring the intersection of People, Business, Technology, and AI. Engage with expert guests—including thought leaders from Microsoft, industry innovators, and community specialists—who are redefining the world with advancements in AI, Cloud technologies, the Power Platform, Dynamics 365, and beyond.Every episode delivers a blend of in-depth discussions, practical insights, and actionable strategies tailored for professionals driving enablement and innovation. Join us across our five shows:The Power Platform ShowThe MVP ShowThe Copilot ShowThe Ecosystems ShowThe AI Advantage (coming soon)
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