👋 Michael Pocress

I'm a researcher at the Harvard AI and Robotics Lab, where I study the reliability, alignment, and interpretability of large language models (LLMs). My work focuses on how these systems make judgments in complex scenarios, where they fail, and how we can design more trustworthy AI. I previously worked in consulting at McKinsey & Company and contributed to AI product development at Articul8 AI. I'm passionate about building responsible, interpretable AI systems and leveraging technology to drive sustainable progress.

I'm a researcher at the Harvard AI and Robotics Lab, where I study the reliability and alignment of large language models (LLMs)—examining how they make judgments in complex scenarios and how we can evaluate, understand, and ultimately improve their trustworthiness. My work includes developing evaluation frameworks, conducting large-scale empirical tests across state-of-the-art models, and identifying where LLM reasoning becomes inconsistent or unstable.

Previously, I worked in consulting at McKinsey & Company, helping clients improve their corporate strategy, operations, and analytics capabilities. I also contributed to AI product development at Articul8 AI, where I built machine learning models that informed data acquisition decisions for industry-specific language models.

During my master's in Data Science at Harvard University, I was elected to represent all master's students in student government and was actively involved in the AI Student Safety Team, a student-led initiative dedicated to promoting responsible AI development and governance.

Before Harvard, I studied Economics and Data Science at Cornell University, where I was a Hunter R. Rawlings III Presidential Research Scholar and a Research Fellow at the Emerging Markets Institute. My research examined the economic, regulatory, and technological drivers of growth in emerging economies. I was also involved with Cornell's Public Service Center and earned a Certificate in Engaged Leadership.

I'm deeply interested in the energy transition, sustainability, and environmental resilience—interests shaped in part by my experience living homeless in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and witnessing the real impacts of climate change firsthand.

When I'm not working, you'll likely find me reading, cooking, or exploring the outdoors—especially national parks.

If you share these interests or simply want to exchange ideas, I'd love to connect.