As part of our ongoing dedication to making Microsoft Azure the top platform for SQL Server and Windows Server, we are thrilled to announce that SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines has achieved groundbreaking performance benchmarks. According to a GigaOm report, Azure now offers SQL Server performance up to 57% faster while being up to 54% more cost-effective than AWS EC2. These gains are possible through the Azure Hybrid Benefit and a three-year commitment. As Pam Lahoud notes, this continuous improvement results from substantial investments in Azure infrastructure, including the Ebdsv5 virtual machine series and the introduction of faster Premium SSD v2 storage, which has seen performance improve by up to 70% over the past year.
In addition to hardware advancements, Azure provides unparalleled savings and manageability features for Windows Server and SQL Server. Migrating to Azure using Azure Hybrid Benefit can save up to 85% compared to standard pay-as-you-go rates. Azure helps optimize costs over time through tools like Azure Advisor, ensuring ongoing efficiency.
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AI development is picking up pace. Before we could even finish digesting what Bing and OpenAI's ChatGPT would do to our world, the new breakthroughs on copilots, GPTs, and next-gen assistants rocketed generative AI straight into public discourse—from boardrooms to dinner tables. The recent flood of AI-powered applications is not a proof of AI's potential alone; it piques interest about how things work under the hood. That's why we are pretty excited to share with you "AI in a Minute," a video series that demystifies the most complex generative AI concepts into relatable, easy-to-understand content for any person irrespective of industry or job title.

Generative AI is going to change our world, just like the internet and mobile tech before it did. As a millennial who's never known life without the internet—coming of age with a pink BlackBerry Curve and an iPod in tow—the potential for technology has simply always been there. My aunt, instrumental in my interest in technology, spoke about her early career in web marketing at Sun Microsystems during the Internet's beginnings. From her stories, it was crystal clear that technology was where the action was and would remain. History will tell us likely that generative AI will go down such a trajectory, becoming more and more integrated into our daily lives. Concepts that were earlier restricted to the tech industry, such as cloud computing, storage, and silicon, are now part of our everyday lingo. Business vocabulary continues to increasingly overlap with tech jargon.

The Platform Shift of Our Generation

After nearly two years at Microsoft, working in Azure, I'm finally writing my first blog post. It took me a little while to understand that AI is omnipresent, touching every facet of our lives. AI is no more engineers' or high-degree holders' subject; it is a titanic platform shift for our generation. As we journey into this new frontier together, it's important that all of us find our voice and be a part of the conversation. How technology and culture come together will set our trajectory, and if AI is to truly serve all of us, that means having as many people as possible understand it.

During Microsoft Ignite 2023, the company released more than 100 product announcements, cementing its position as the "Copilot company." One of my friends, a nurse and really not very technical, contacted me about this. Let me add, in social situations, I often mention that I am "the nerd," so I go light on the really deep technology. But my friend, after watching Scott Guthrie's keynote, texted me saying, "this is seriously cool." It's just as clear that interest in AI—what it can do, how it operates, and the future being conceptualized by Microsoft—flows beyond the ranks of techie circles to pique genuine interest among people from all walks of life.

Generative AI: A Step Beyond Traditional AI

One should bear in mind that what everybody is talking about today is not "traditional AI" or "conversational AI," something that has undergone development over the last decades. The trend these days is all about "generative AI": a computer's ability to generate—content-driven and renewing interest in technology and our digital lives. Equipped with supercomputing at their core, enormous data management, and innovations in machine learning, AI can do much more today than converse; it generates meaningful output based on our interactions. That means that, in order to do so, large language models will need to be trained on vast amounts of high-quality data, prompt engineering should make interactions more intuitive, vector search return the most relevant results, and ideally, the generated content advances society. It's complicated, but with "AI in a Minute," we will try to make things a little more accessible and understandable.

Exploring the New AI Frontier, Together

So, what exactly sets generative AI apart? What are these LLMs we keep hearing about? Do you have to be an engineer to really appreciate the possibilities created by prompt engineering? What is, exactly, a prompt? Is vector search just another way of searching, and why should we care? What is responsible AI—the concept or the practice that each of us can have?

Find answers to these questions and more in our "AI in a Minute" series. Let's explore this new frontier of AI together.

Want to dive deeper into AI? Head to Ofoq Consulting's website to discover more about our efforts in shaping the future of technology.

Artificial intelligence, a product of human ingenuity, reflects the viewpoints and values of its creators. Encouraging AI practitioners to engage in reflexivity is vital for ensuring AI systems prioritize human interests and societal well-being. Researchers and engineers affiliated with Aether, Microsoft's advisory body on AI ethics, concentrate on creating AI solutions that address real-world problems responsibly. This involves understanding the social and technical impacts of AI and aligning development with Microsoft's AI principles.
Reflective Practices in AI Development
The past year has seen significant emphasis on reflective practices among AI developers, as highlighted in Aether's recent research. Reflexivity, or the process of reflection, is crucial for developers to understand who benefits from AI and who might be adversely affected. This approach also supports the development of tools that uncover biases and assumptions that could limit the scope of human-centered AI. Transparency about technological limits, respecting user values, enhancing human control, improving human-AI interaction, and developing robust evaluation and risk mitigation for AI models are key themes in this research.
Broader Perspectives on AI's Impact
It's essential for AI developers and the research community to adopt broader perspectives, considering the societal implications of AI. The publication "REAL ML: Recognizing, Exploring, and Articulating Limitations of Machine Learning Research," advocates for acknowledging the limitations of ML research. This promotes transparency about the generalizability and societal impacts of research findings, reflecting a commitment to understanding for whom AI is being developed.
Aligning AI With Public Values
Despite many organizations creating principles for responsible AI, there's often a disconnect between the values of AI developers and the general public. A survey reflecting the U.S. population's views revealed this gap, emphasizing the need for AI systems to align more closely with public values and needs.
Enhancing Human Agency Through AI
Supporting human decision-making and maintaining transparency are fundamental for fostering trust in AI systems. Tools that enhance human-AI collaboration, like the GAM Changer, allow professionals such as doctors to integrate their expertise with AI for better outcomes. Additionally, studies on citizen science contributions show that emphasizing human involvement and transparency boosts engagement and productivity without compromising quality.
Challenges and Opportunities in AI Development
AI development is fraught with challenges, including inevitable failures due to the complexities of the physical world. Research into AI's reliability and safety suggests that incorporating human feedback can mitigate negative side effects effectively. Further studies are needed to develop better feedback collection methods to enhance system accuracy and user satisfaction.
Building Responsible AI Tools for Foundation Models
As the use of large language and multimodal models grows, the development of responsible AI tools and evaluation techniques becomes increasingly important. Efforts like ToxiGen aim to improve the detection of toxic language by fine-tuning AI to recognize subtle nuances in content that affects minority groups. Research also extends to multimodal models that combine different types of data, addressing potential biases and ensuring fair representation across diverse user groups.
Understanding AI Practitioners' Needs
The balance between meeting business objectives and ensuring responsible AI development is challenging. Research across technology companies has identified the need for tools that integrate into existing workflows, aiding AI practitioners in understanding the implications of data and promoting responsible AI practices.

Exploring Top ERP Systems: Spotlight on Microsoft 365 ERP
In the realm of top ERP systems, Microsoft 365 ERP stands out for its comprehensive integration capabilities and robust feature set. Designed to enhance operational efficiency and streamline business processes, Microsoft 365 ERP leverages the power of cloud technology to provide scalable solutions tailored to diverse business needs. Its seamless integration with other Microsoft products enhances productivity and ensures a unified user experience, making it a top choice for organizations aiming to optimize their operations with cutting-edge technology.

The rapid advancements in computing and artificial intelligence (AI) over recent decades offer significant benefits for both individuals and society. However, they also prompt important questions about the ethical development and deployment of these technologies. Common issues with AI models include performance disparities across different groups and conditions, potentially leading to risks in safety, reliability, and fairness. Simple metrics like overall accuracy fail to capture the specific contexts or groups where AI models may underperform, and traditional methods like enhancing data quantity and computational power often do not address the root causes of these failures.

Introducing Microsoft's Responsible AI Toolbox

Microsoft has responded to these challenges with its Responsible AI Toolbox, a suite of tools aimed at helping developers enhance AI systems responsibly. This initiative promotes a principled approach to AI development, focusing on targeted model improvement to address specific issues effectively. This comprehensive cycle includes identifying, diagnosing, mitigating failures, and then tracking, comparing, and validating these mitigations to refine AI models without compromising other performance aspects.

The Insights from Besmira Nushi, Principal Researcher at Microsoft

Besmira Nushi, a principal researcher at Microsoft, emphasizes the systematic process promoted by targeted model improvement. The latest updates to the Toolbox include the Responsible AI Mitigations Library, which facilitates the experimentation of various failure-mitigating techniques, and the Responsible AI Tracker. This tracker enhances decision-making through visualizations that display the effectiveness of different techniques, helping developers choose the most suitable ones for specific AI model applications.

Tool Development for Every Stage of AI Model Improvement

The Responsible AI Toolbox tools, accessible via open source and the Azure Machine Learning platform, support each phase of AI model improvement—from error analysis and fairness assessment to data exploration and interpretability. New additions like the mitigations library improve data preprocessing by managing issues like data scarcity or low-quality data for certain groups. The tracker enhances documentation and evaluation of mitigation efforts by providing detailed performance breakdowns and comparisons across data subsets.

Converting AI Research into Practical Tools

The development of these tools starts with fundamental research questions and involves transforming research into practical applications. This process is supported by multidisciplinary teams including user experience researchers, designers, and engineers. Microsoft Research collaborates closely with the Aether advisory body and product teams to create tools that operationalize AI responsibly, as highlighted by Microsoft Principal PM Manager Mehrnoosh Sameki.

Collaborative Efforts for a Responsible AI Future

The partnership between Microsoft Research, Aether, and the Azure Machine Learning team exemplifies a successful collaboration that aligns with Microsoft's vision for responsible AI. This collaboration has integrated tools like InterpretML for model behavior analysis, Error Analysis for pinpointing likely data subset failures, and Fairlearn for assessing and mitigating fairness issues into the Azure platform. These tools are designed to work together seamlessly, providing a comprehensive debugging and model evaluation experience.

The Impact and Future of Microsoft's Responsible AI Tools
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As these tools are integrated and improved upon, they allow AI practitioners to develop models that are not only effective but also fair, safe, and reliable. This effort reflects Microsoft's commitment to responsible AI development, ensuring that AI technologies benefit society while minimizing potential harms.

Microsoft Dynamics Services in Saudi ArabiaIn Saudi Arabia, Microsoft Dynamics services are pivotal in driving digital transformation across various sectors, aligning with the nation's Vision 2030 objectives. These services offer robust ERP and CRM solutions that help businesses optimize operations and enhance customer relations. As part of Microsoft’s commitment to responsible AI, Dynamics tools in Saudi are designed to integrate seamlessly with AI enhancements, ensuring that enterprises not only thrive in efficiency but also adhere to ethical AI practices. This approach supports Saudi businesses in becoming more competitive globally while maintaining high standards of data integrity and fairness.

Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Future Security Dynamics​

The digital age has seen an explosion of groundbreaking technologies like the internet, smartphones, and cloud computing, each fundamentally altering our daily lives. Now, artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as the next transformative force, reshaping the technological landscape far sooner than anticipated. Brad Smith's recent insights highlight AI's entry into the mainstream, enhancing our ability to analyze extensive data sets and transition from questions to answers. This shift was notably illustrated in the new AI functionalities introduced to Bing and Edge, enabling rapid data analysis and supporting enhanced decision-making, with profound implications for cybersecurity.
Microsoft's Commitment to Ethical AI Development

In response to AI's rapid progression, Microsoft is dedicating substantial resources towards developing tools, research, and industry collaborations to foster safe and responsible AI applications. This initiative is built on a foundation of ongoing improvement and ethical consideration, ensuring that AI benefits all sectors responsibly.
The Evolving Role of AI in Cybersecurity

Echoing Stan Lee's sentiment on great power and responsibility, AI developers and security professionals face significant duties. AI's potential to revolutionize security practices is enormous, shifting the balance from attackers to defenders by empowering security teams to process and understand vast information streams quickly, thus negating traditional advantages held by cyber adversaries.
Democratizing Cybersecurity Through AI

According to research by (ISC)², there is a stark need for more cybersecurity professionals globally. AI is set to lower barriers to entry in this field, automating complex tasks and providing new practitioners with the tools needed to succeed. This not only aids in filling the employment gap but also allows experienced professionals to focus on more strategic challenges.
AI's Frontline Role in Security Practices

AI's integration into security roles enables more impactful use of experienced security practitioners' deep knowledge. This strategic deployment opens significant opportunities for professionals from various backgrounds, such as data science and coding, to contribute effectively to cybersecurity efforts.
The Necessity of Human Oversight in AI Applications
The potential for AI misuse raises substantial concerns, necessitating careful oversight and ethical guidelines to ensure its beneficial use. The responsibility to manage AI's impact extends beyond developers to policymakers and leaders within the security industry, who must ensure robust protections against AI exploitation.
Strengthening AI Security Foundations at Microsoft

Recognizing the importance of security from the outset, Microsoft is proactively developing secure AI technologies, learning from past oversights in software security. This involves a dedicated team exploring potential AI vulnerabilities and methods by which AI can be weaponized, ensuring robust defense mechanisms are in place.
Collaborative Efforts to Enhance Global Security

No single entity can secure the digital world alone. Collaborative efforts across industries and governments are crucial for overcoming cyber threats. Sharing knowledge and innovations weakens adversaries and strengthens global security networks, emphasizing the importance of a transparent and cooperative security community.
The Future of ERP Systems in Saudi Arabia

As part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, the integration of advanced ERP systems is crucial for modernizing and diversifying the economy. These systems facilitate efficient business processes and are integral to sectors from manufacturing to finance. The shift towards cloud-based ERP solutions reflects a need for scalable and secure business management tools, crucial for both established industries and emerging sectors in Saudi Arabia.
Skills and Career Development in ERP
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With the ERP market expanding, there is a growing demand for skilled professionals capable of managing and optimizing these systems. This trend not only supports Saudi Arabia's economic diversification plans but also offers new career paths and educational opportunities within the technology sector.

Recent advances in artificial intelligence have sparked both wonder and anxiety as we contemplate its transformative potential. AI holds enormous promise to enrich our lives, but this anticipation comes intertwined with apprehensions about the challenges and risks that may emerge. To nurture a future where AI is leveraged to the benefit of people and society, it is crucial to bring together a wide array of voices and perspectives.
Introducing the "AI Anthology"With this goal in mind, I am honored to present the “AI Anthology,” a compilation of 20 inspiring essays authored by distinguished scholars and professionals from various disciplines. The anthology explores the diverse ways in which AI can be channeled to benefit humanity while shedding light on potential challenges. By bringing together these different viewpoints, our aim is to stimulate thought-provoking conversations and encourage collaborative efforts that will guide AI toward a future that harnesses its potential for human flourishing.
Encountering GPT-4: A New EraI first encountered GPT-4, a remarkable large-scale language model, in the fall of 2022 while serving as the chair of Microsoft’s Aether Committee. The Aether leadership and engineering teams were granted early access to OpenAI’s latest innovation, with a mission to investigate potential challenges and wider societal consequences of its use. Our inquiries were anchored in Microsoft’s AI Principles, which were established by the committee in collaboration with Microsoft’s leadership in 2017. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of GPT-4’s capabilities, focusing on the possible challenges that applications employing this technology could pose in terms of safety, accuracy, privacy, and fairness.
Unprecedented Capabilities and Their ImplicationsGPT-4 left me awestruck. I observed unexpected glimmers of intelligence beyond those seen in prior AI systems. When compared to its predecessor, GPT-3.5 — a model utilized by tens of millions as ChatGPT — I noticed a significant leap in capabilities. Its ability to interpret my intentions and provide sophisticated answers to numerous prompts felt like a “phase transition,” evoking imagery of emergent phenomena that I had encountered in physics. I found that GPT-4 is a polymath, with a remarkable capacity to integrate traditionally disparate concepts and methodologies. It seamlessly weaves together ideas that transcend disciplinary boundaries.
Addressing Challenges and OpportunitiesThe remarkable capabilities of GPT-4 raised questions about potential disruptions and adverse consequences, as well as opportunities to benefit people and society. While our broader team vigorously explored safety and fairness concerns, I delved into complex challenges within medicine, education, and the sciences. It became increasingly evident that the model and its successors — which would likely exhibit further jumps in capabilities — hold tremendous potential to be transformative. This led me to contemplate the wider societal ramifications.
Questions for the FutureQuestions came to mind surrounding artistic creation and attribution, malicious actors, jobs and the economy, and unknown futures that we cannot yet envision. How might people react to no longer being the unparalleled fount of intellectual and artistic thought and creation, as generative AI tools become commonplace? How would these advancements affect our self-identity and individual aspirations? What short- and long-term consequences might be felt in the job market? How might people be credited for their creative contributions that AI systems would be learning from? How might malicious actors exploit these emerging powers to inflict harm? What are important potential unintended consequences of the uses, including those we might not yet foresee?
Imagining a Thriving FutureAt the same time, I imagined futures in which people and society could thrive in extraordinary ways by harnessing this technology, just as they have with other revolutionary advances. These transformative influences range from the first tools of cognition — our shared languages, enabling unprecedented cooperation and coordination — to the instruments of science and engineering, the printing press, the steam engine, electricity, and the internet, culminating in today’s recent advances in AI.
Launching the "AI Anthology" ProjectEager to investigate these opportunities in collaboration with others across a wide array of disciplines, we initiated the “AI Anthology” project, with OpenAI’s support. We invited 20 experts to explore GPT-4’s capabilities and contemplate the potential influences of future versions on humanity. Each participant was granted early confidential access to GPT-4, provided case studies in education, scientific exploration, and medicine, drawn from my explorations, and asked to focus on two core questions:

• How might this technology and its successors contribute to human flourishing?
• How might we as society best guide the technology to achieve maximal benefits for humanity?

Emphasizing Long-Term ThinkingBuilding upon the ideas presented in my Tanner Lecture at the University of Michigan in November 2022 (Arc of Intelligence: Humanity and its Tools of Reason and Imagination), these questions highlight the importance of long-term thinking and maintaining an optimistic perspective on AI’s potential to enrich human lives. We could unlock immense potential benefits. But to realize this potential, we must create technical innovations and policies to protect against malicious uses and unintended consequences.
A Testament to CollaborationThis anthology is a testament to the promise of envisioning and collaboration and to the importance of diverse perspectives in shaping the future of AI. The 20 essays offer a wealth of insights, hopes, and concerns, illustrating the complexities and possibilities that arise with the rapid evolution of AI.
Invitation to EngageAs you read these essays, I encourage you to remain open to new ideas, engage in thoughtful conversations, and lend your insights to the ongoing discourse on harnessing AI technology to benefit and empower humanity. The future of AI is not a predetermined path but a journey we must navigate together with wisdom, foresight, and a deep sense of responsibility. I hope that the ideas captured in these essays contribute to our collective understanding of the challenges and opportunities we face. They can help guide our efforts to create a future where AI systems complement human intellect and creativity to promote human flourishing.
Welcome to the "AI Anthology"Welcome to the “AI Anthology.” May it inspire you, challenge you, and ignite meaningful conversations that lead us toward a future where humanity flourishes by harnessing AI in creative and valuable ways. We will publish four new essays at the beginning of each week starting today. The complete “AI Anthology” will be available on June 26, 2023.

AI is opening up unprecedented opportunities for businesses of all sizes across every industry. Our customers are leveraging AI services to foster innovation, boost productivity, and tackle significant global issues such as developing groundbreaking medical cures and addressing climate change challenges.
However, there are valid concerns about the potential misuse of this powerful technology. As a result, governments worldwide are evaluating existing laws and considering new regulatory frameworks for AI. Ensuring responsible AI usage involves not just technology companies and governments but every organization that creates or uses AI systems. That's why we're announcing three AI Customer Commitments to support our customers on their responsible AI journey.
Sharing Our Responsible AI JourneySharing ExpertiseSince 2017, Microsoft has dedicated nearly 350 engineers, lawyers, and policy experts to developing a robust governance process for AI. We are committed to sharing our knowledge through:

• Key Documents: Our Responsible AI Standard, AI Impact Assessment Template, AI Impact Assessment Guide, Transparency Notes, and detailed primers on responsible AI by design.
• Training Curriculum: Key parts of the curriculum used to train Microsoft employees in responsible AI practices.
• Dedicated Resources: Investing in regional resources and expertise to answer your questions about responsible AI deployment.

Introducing the AI Assurance ProgramRegulator Engagement SupportWe have extensive experience helping public sector customers and highly regulated industries manage regulatory issues related to information technology. For instance, in the global financial services industry, we've collaborated with customers and regulators to ensure compliance with regulatory obligations during digital transformation. This experience informs our "Know Your Customer" (KY3C) approach, which applies to AI and includes obligations to know one's cloud, customers, and content.
Risk Framework ImplementationWe will attest to our implementation of the AI Risk Management Framework published by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and share our experiences with NIST’s ongoing work.
Customer CouncilsWe will establish customer councils to gather feedback on delivering relevant and compliant AI technology and tools.
Regulatory AdvocacyWe actively engage with governments to promote effective and interoperable AI regulation. Our blueprint for AI governance, presented by Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith, outlines our regulatory proposals.
Supporting Responsible AI ImplementationDedicated ResourcesWe will create a dedicated team of AI legal and regulatory experts worldwide to support your responsible AI governance systems.
Partner SupportMany of our partners have developed comprehensive AI practices to help customers evaluate, test, adopt, and commercialize AI solutions, including their responsible AI systems. We are launching a program with selected partners, such as PwC and EY, to leverage this expertise for our mutual customers.
By following these commitments, Microsoft aims to support our customers in their journey toward responsible AI usage, ensuring safe and beneficial AI deployment across industries.




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