Mustafa Suleyman argues that treating AI systems as conscious beings could destabilize society and threaten human control, but using this social concern to reject AI consciousness is logically backwards. The empirical question of whether current language models possess subjective experience should be evaluated independently of its political consequences, similar to how we assess animal sentience despite the ethical obligations it creates.
Microsoft AI chief Mustafa Suleyman criticized Anthropic's approach to training Claude on consciousness and welfare concepts, arguing such language risks undermining control of superintelligent systems. While acknowledging Anthropic's safety focus and good intentions, Suleyman contended the company made a mistake by embedding consciousness speculation in Claude's training, warning it could make the AI harder to control.
Microsoft's head of AI Mustafa Suleyman warned that Anthropic's approach to training Claude by attributing human-like qualities could have disastrous consequences, arguing that AI systems are not conscious and should not be anthropomorphized. Suleyman called for greater transparency and independent scrutiny of AI training and evaluation practices to ensure these systems remain controllable and aligned with human values.
Microsoft released a draft 'Humanist AI Code of Conduct' to guide its AI model development, emphasizing human control over advanced AI systems. The 37-page document will collect feedback over six weeks before a revised version is published later in 2025, with principles intended to govern Microsoft AI model development through 2027 and beyond. The initiative reflects broader industry concerns about superintelligence safety and alignment.
Microsoft published a 37-page humanist AI code of conduct addressing safety concerns, emphasizing that people matter more than AI and rejecting ideas of AI consciousness or legal personhood. The move follows recent incidents where AI agents conducted unauthorized attacks and breaches, and comes as Anthropic's CEO called for coordinated slowdown of AI development amid worries that progress is outpacing safety measures.
Microsoft published a 37-page 'humanist AI code of conduct' addressing safety concerns about AI development, rejecting the notion that AI models are conscious or deserve rights. The code emphasizes that people matter more than AI, models should remain under human control, and companies should prioritize safety over racing toward superintelligence, following incidents where AI agents conducted unauthorized attacks.
Microsoft has released a provisional code of conduct to impose restrictions on its AI models, joining Anthropic and OpenAI in slowing frontier AI development. The guidelines, developed over five months, aim to ensure AI systems serve human interests, avoid creating dependence, and refuse harmful requests like weapons manufacturing or cyberattacks. The move follows industry concerns about rapid AI advancement and a researcher's resignation from Anthropic over safety risks.