Microsoft's AI Code of Conduct Falls Short of Concrete Action Plans
Microsoft has released a draft version of its Humanist AI Code of Conduct, aimed at controlling the behavior of its artificial intelligence (AI) models. The company stated that AI should not exceed human control and must remain subordinate to humanity, subject to meaningful human oversight and control.
The code of conduct is part of Microsoft's efforts to address concerns about the risks associated with advanced AI. However, analysts have pointed out that the document lacks specifics on how to implement these principles and does not provide concrete action plans.
Thomas Randall, research director at Info-Tech Research Group, noted that while Microsoft's stated goal is laudable, the lack of verification mechanisms makes it difficult to take the post seriously. He emphasized the need for verifiable data points, such as those from independent evaluators, and independent board-level safety oversight with authority to block releases.
Others have criticized Microsoft for merely doing the easy part, the marketing part, and not committing to doing the hard part. Noah Kenney, principal consultant at Digital 52, said that promising to give up capabilities is easy when those capabilities don't yet exist, and the real test will come when Microsoft has a model ready to ship.
Microsoft's code of conduct has been praised for its emphasis on safety and control over AI models. However, critics argue that it does not provide a clear plan for implementation and relies too heavily on written objectives alone.