HP Innovation Journal Issue 09: Spring 2018 | Page 65

Employee Profile
David Murphy
Distinguished Technologist, Smart Machines Group, Emerging Compute Lab, HP
As a member of the Chief Technology Office, David has been instrumental in forming our compute
strategy and IoT efforts, building proof-of-concept devices for concept exploration, and researching
applied machine learning approaches to vision, audition and anomaly detection.
What projects are you currently working on? What is your vision for the future of human connection?
I lead a Lab that does applied research in Machine Learn-
ing and Artificial Intelligence (AI). We have two goals: We are now on the cusp of a true understanding of intel-
ligence and how to replicate it. This is truly an exciting
time in human history. However, advances in technol-
ogy are always accompanied by challenges in responsible
deployment. In the case of machine learning and artificial
intelligence, these challenges lie in imbuing our agents
with a sense of empathy and compassion and in removing
bias. Success in these human-centered goals will make our
agents true partners.
1. To increase HP’s competency in cutting edge appli-
cations of machine learning.
2. To create intelligent agents that open new business
opportunities for HP.
What inspires you to innovate?
The signature of my email states “The purpose of tech-
nology is to shorten the distance from a thought to
its manifestation.”
That simple statement captures the drive that has pow-
ered most of my working life. We, as humans, are always
creating tools to advance that goal. Whether that was
manual tools to shape wood and stone at the dawn of civ-
ilization or the intelligent, AI power agents of the modern
age delivering personalized, lifesaving medical treatments
or aiding scientists to reaching a true understanding of
the universe. The creation of these tools unleashes human
potential.
What does Keep Reinventing mean to you?
Throughout the course of my career, I’ve been blessed to
work in areas that are cutting-edge. Working in such areas,
the key to success are to be humble and realize you must
always be learning, absorbing new ideas, and applying
your newfound knowledge to your problems. This is rein-
vention. As one undertakes the challenge to grow, I offer
that your best course of action is to cast a broad net. Some
of the best insights come from searching across disciplines
and thereby gaining from alternative viewpoints. Be open-
minded, explore new ideas, and grow.
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