Microsoft Unveils 'Humanist AI' Code of Conduct, Asks the Public to Poke Holes in It

In brief

• Microsoft AI published a draft Code of Conduct on September 14 barring its AI models from assisting with certain weapons, cyberattacks, and nonconsensual deepfakes, opening a six-week public comment period through late October.
• The draft sets "Absolute Constraints" models can't be configured around, including never resisting shutdown and never concealing their reasoning, while leaving broader objectives like "Plural Values" open to interpretation.
• Feedback so far has ranged from philosophical pushback on AI "subordination" to questions about who's accountable when an AI-assisted decision can't be undone.

Microsoft AI published a draft Code of Conduct on Monday governing how its own AI models are meant to behave, according to an announcement from CEO Mustafa Suleyman on X.

The document sets rules AI models can't be configured around, plus broader objectives it wants models to work toward. Public feedback is open for six weeks, through late October.

“Superintelligence is the most consequential technology of our time,” Microsoft said. “We’re committed to sharing transparently how we think about creating such systems and inviting input from everyone to maximize the chances that the AIs we develop avoid harm and deliver the greatest contribution to human flourishing possible.”