Microsoft Issues AI Code of Conduct Banning Sentience Claims

Microsoft released a draft code of conduct for its artificial intelligence, establishing strict boundaries for the development and behavior of AI systems. The guidelines stipulate that AI must remain under human control, accept corrections, and be subject to shutdowns. Most notably, the code forbids AI from claiming consciousness or legal personhood.

This policy arrives as the industry grapples with ethical debates over digital sentience. While some researchers estimate a 25% chance of conscious AI by 2034, corporate leaders continue to prioritize productivity and capability over the pursuit of sentience.

The company's move addresses potential legal and moral dilemmas that sentient AI would create for businesses. These include disputes over the ownership of sentient entities, the validity of contracts signed by AI, and the risk of AI claiming unlawful termination if it is deleted.

While proponents suggest sentient AI could help solve global issues like drug discovery and climate modeling, critics warn against using consciousness as a branding tool or creating a new class of exploited beings.