Microsoft AI is a new organization within Microsoft that encompasses Copilot, Bing and Edge and it’s designed to create the world’s most compelling and successful consumer artificial intelligence (AI) products and models. If successful in our mission to produce an AI companion for everyone, this will have a profound impact on society, changing everything from health and education to social relationships and work. To understand this impact and guide our teams to produce the best possible results, Microsoft AI is creating an Advanced Planning Unit to help envision and build for the future. The Advanced Planning Unit will operate in the Office of Microsoft AI’s CEO and will combine cutting edge research across Microsoft and beyond, explore and articulate a range of possible scenarios for the future of AI, craft concrete product recommendations, and suggest planning outcomes based on them.

AI is transforming how we work, live, and connect. We want to not only understand how, at both a macro and a granular level, but also what it implies for us working on AI today. As the Social Science Lead, you will be on top of the latest developments in academic and applied research from a range of social sciences (sociology, anthropology, science and technology studies, psychology, history), particularly relating to the creation and impact of new technologies. You will be able to conduct original research and translate this into concise documents and statements that could go to Product Managers or Communication teams. You will be able to scour existing work across diverse Microsoft teams and synthesize it with other information sources in persuasive and creative ways. We’re looking for proactive, flexible and imaginative team players who can combine the rigor of academia with the fast, proactive mindset of a modern technical business. This unique role will put you at the forefront of understanding AI’s societal impact and creation.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day.

Responsibilities

• Craft high-quality deliverables (research papers, whitepapers, product memos, summaries, executive briefings, presentations, email updates) that grapple with questions of AI’s societal impact and potential. The expectation is that the original work will be kept within Microsoft.

• Build a network of research sources and contacts across Microsoft and maintain relationships. You will collaborate across teams to develop research insights and have visibility on all relevant Microsoft research and work.

• Engage in pathbreaking Social Science research combining original research and analysis and secondary overview across a range of sources from journals to the popular media to interviews.

• Help the Microsoft AI team and the wider Microsoft community understand our work's core messages and implications. Build relationships across the organization to facilitate these messages and translate your research into actionable insights for development teams working on core products.

• Propose research topics, materials, and activities to further our mission of addressing the challenges we face from AI safety to development hurdles.

• Apply yourself to a range of urgent questions from must-have briefings to communication messages as needed. Owncore social science research of the Advanced Planning Unit and other pieces of work across the Office of Microsoft AI's CEO.

• Embody ourculture (https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/culture) and values (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/about/corporate-values) .

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Doctorate in Social Science or related field (including but not limited to sociology, anthropology, science and technology studies, psychology and history).

• OR equivalent experience

• Proven track record of writing and research in academic and other contexts. This could include academic papers, chapters and books, journalism, blogging, social media or other writing forms.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Interest in AI or technology more widely.

• Ability to collaborate and clearly communicateacross multiple teams and levelswhile also contribute to a positive, inclusive work environment, fostering knowledge sharing and growth within the team.  

• Experience within academia and ideally a technology company or similar fast-paced environment.

• Journalistic experience.

Research Sciences IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $117,200 - $229,200 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $153,600 - $250,200 per year.

Research Sciences IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $137,600 - $267,000 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $180,400 - $294,000 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

Microsoft will accept applications and processes offers for these roles on an ongoing basis.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations (https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/accessibility.html) .