Microsoft AI Foundation Models
The landscape of research is going through a significant transformation, driven by the power of AI foundation models. These sophisticated tools are enhancing our ability to develop pharmaceuticals, predict weather patterns, and design innovative materials – enabling faster and more accurate scientific outcomes.
I was assigned by Microsoft to photograph and capture their work with AI Foundation Models at the Microsoft Lab in Cambridge. I built three different studio lighting set ups (throughout the building) to photograph the portraits, with a fourth portable flash system for the reportage photography.
Foundation models have the potential to transform daily life and revolutionize industries. By accelerating scientific discovery, they not only are expected to drive rapid advancements in areas like medicine and materials but also offer deeper insights into complex systems like atoms, molecules and proteins. Currently, many of these models are still under development at Microsoft Research, and the first, a weather model called Aurora, is already available.
Discovering new materials might seem like a narrow field, but in fact, it’s a huge focus of R & D because there are so many kinds – alloys, ceramics, polymers, composites, semiconductors – and because the possible combinations of atoms into new molecules number in the billions. New materials are vital to reduce the impact of carbon emissions as well as to find safe replacements for materials that endanger the environment or health.