Reed's Ruminations: The Past, Present, and Future
Reflections on science, technology, and computing — leavened by personal experience
Tag: Microsoft
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The AI Whispered Your Name …
You have probably been the unwitting protagonist in the following social horror movie. A stranger approaches you and begins chatting animatedly, like an old acquaintance or confidant. Meanwhile, you nod vaguely, half-listening while seized by internal panic. You frantically attempt to triangulate a face, name and a context. It is a study in cognitive dissonance,…
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Geek Versus Chic
For much of my time at Microsoft, I wore two hats. As head of the eXtreme Computing Group (XCG), I oversaw research and advanced technology prototyping. Simultaneously, I also headed the Technology Strategy and Policy Group (TSPG), navigating the interplay between business and global regulation. This duality kept me in a state of near-constant motion.…
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On “Retirement,” Gratitude, and the Future
On August 1, 2024, I will become a Presidential Professor (emeritus) at the University of Utah, though my work and research will continue.
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Holiday Explanations: So, What Do You Do?
During the holidays, researchers are often asked what they do. Answer carefully; do not confirm stereotypes.
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Understanding and Explaining: The Feynman Technique
If you cannot recreate an idea from its elementary components, you do not really understand it — knowing something is not the same as knowing the name of something.
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American Competitiveness: IT and HPC Futures – Follow the Money and the Talent
The price of innovation keeps rising, the talent is following the money, and many of the traditional players – companies and countries – are struggling to keep up.