Microsoft Research

What does it take to grow more confident in your future as a researcher?

For Tony Chae, an undergraduate research internship at Microsoft Research offered an opportunity to explore new ideas, collaborate with researchers, and build connections beyond the lab.

The experience helped Tony expand his knowledge, develop new perspectives, and build confidence as he prepares for a future PhD.

Every technological revolution has remodeled our institutions – how might AI?
In @ScienceMagazine, Microsoft researcher @glenweyl and co-author @profjamesevans explore ‘reverse alignment,’ the idea that using neural networks as a model for reshaping institutions might offer a path toward harnessing the benefits of AI while managing its risks. msft.it/6015aAHYP

How do you solve the trust problem with AI-generated code?

AI agents can generate code at a scale too great for humans to review line-by-line. That makes it difficult to ensure the code will do what the developer intended, and it leaves the final output vulnerable to bugs and security risks.

Proof-Driven Development Kit turns plain-language developer intent into a specification in Verus, applying formal methods traditionally used for safety-critical systems. PDD Kit uses mathematical proofs to test agent-generated code against the spec where possible, and clearly indicates where the proofs can’t reach. The result is more reliable agentic code.

Researchers @MatthaiP39719 and @alexlavaee break down Proof-Driven Development in the MSR blog: msft.it/6019af2V7

What if knowing the rules isn't the same as knowing what to do?

For Mike Walker, who leads projects at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and large distributed systems at Microsoft Research, understanding a system starts with understanding its rules—but expertise also requires something more nuanced: knowing how those rules operate in context.

In a new Microsoft Research Podcast episode, Walker joins Principal Technical Program Manager Weishung Liu to talk cybersecurity, hacker culture, autonomous systems, leadership, and what his personal and professional challenges have taught him about judgment and adaptability.

First, learn the rules. Then see what's possible.

Watch the full conversation: msft.it/6010a4V0m

Introducing Microsoft Research Focus, a new way to catch up on research news from across Microsoft.

In this edition, we're covering advances in AI agents, what patterns in everyday AI usage reveal about how people work, BioEmu2's public preview, and research aimed at improving weather forecasts weeks in advance.

Watch the full video here or listen on major podcast platforms.