Dertouzos Distinguished Lecture: The Magic Cycle of Research in the AI Era, Yossi Matias

Abstract:
We live in a golden age for research, where the scope and velocity at which foundational breakthroughs materialize into real-world impact is unprecedented. I will discuss the "Magic Cycle" of research where real-world challenges motivate foundational inquiry, which in turn spawns solutions that generate new scientific questions. I will also expand on how AI is accelerating this magic cycle, with impact on diverse areas, from health, climate, and education, to computing, and research itself. 

Drawing on Google Research’s legacy, from the invention of the Transformer to our recent advances in verifiable quantum advantage, algorithms, health and science, and planetary intelligence, I will illustrate some of the work done across various domains and their impact on technologies, science and society, and highlight the potential of AI as an amplifier of human ingenuity. 

Bio:
Yossi Matias is Vice President, Google, and Head of Google Research.

Under Yossi’s leadership, world-class global teams are leading breakthrough research on Foundational Machine Learning & Algorithms, Computing Systems & Quantum Computing, Science, AI for Societal Impact in Health, Climate, Sustainability, Education and Cultural and Behavioral Intelligence. Yossi also leads teams advancing foundational research advancements in Generative AI, driving real-world impact and shaping the future of technology.

Yossi was previously on Google Search leadership for over a decade, driving strategic features and technologies, and pioneered Conversational AI innovations to help transform the phone experience and help remove barriers of modality and languages. He was also the founding lead of Google center in Israel and supported other global sites. During his tenure at Google Yossi founded and spearheaded initiatives such as Google's AI for Social Good, Crisis Response, Google for Startups Accelerator, social and cultural initiatives seeding Google Arts & Culture, and programs fostering startups, sustainability, and STEM and AI literacy for youth.

Prior to Google Yossi was on the Computer Science faculty at Tel Aviv University, a visiting professor at Stanford, and a Research Scientist at Bell Labs. He’s published over 200 papers and is the inventor of over 80 patents. He pioneered some of the early technologies for internet privacy, contextual search, and the effective analysis of Big Data. He is a recipient of the Gödel Prize, an ACM Fellow, and a recipient of the ACM Kanellakis Theory and Practice Award for seminal work on streaming algorithms, data sketches, and large-scale data analytics

Yossi has a track record of impact-driven breakthrough research and innovation, and extensive product leadership, transforming products and advancing AI to help address global challenges.