Curiosity Lab: From Clippy to Cutting-Edge Cancer Research: A Four-Decade Journey in AI
January 11, 2026
- 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm ET
In 1980, David Heckerman, both a Summer Science Program parent and former guest speaker, began his career in artificial intelligence at Stanford—kicking off a remarkable path that has spanned pioneering research, tech industry milestones, and bold scientific discovery. Over the next four decades, his work would take him from Stanford’s AI labs to founding startups, to 25 years shaping Microsoft Research, and then to leading major initiatives at Amazon Research.
In this special Curiosity Lab session, David will revisit some of the surprising and transformative moments along the way—including his role in creating Clippy, the animated paperclip assistant that became both beloved and notorious for popping up in Microsoft Office with unsolicited advice (David’s apologies).
He’ll also share his most recent work in the field: a potential new treatment for cancer.
Join us for an inside look at a career defined by curiosity, problem-solving, and the discoveries that have emerged along the way.
