Linda Yilin Wen

Navigating a career across international relations, design and now AI research, I've always been motivated by an urge to serve the most underrepresented people — creating scalable, innovative tools for empowerment, and bringing about meaningful systemic change.

I brought this ethos to the four years I spent at Microsoft Research. I created computer-vision technologies to increase accessibility for people who are blind or low vision — work selected for a Fast Company Innovation by Design Award. I've also worked on the representation of people with disabilities, architecting the data governance structure for AI image generation. You can read more about our work here.

Now I'm focused on creating tools for storytellers: bringing forth new stories, and letting more people read and experience interactive worlds they relate to — unlocking new forms of storytelling. I've worked on an interdisciplinary AI research team advancing multimodal AI, powered by world models.

Outside work, you'll find me on the salsa and bachata dance floor, or cooking up a new recipe inspired by my favourite cuisines — Sichuanese and Italian. My footprints span 51 countries, and I've lived and worked in China, the US, the UK, Mauritius and Spain. I speak Mandarin, English, Spanish and French fluently.