Microsoft AI chief criticizes Anthropic's views on AI consciousness
by@axios
Summary
Microsoft's AI chief has criticized Anthropic's suggestion that AI could achieve consciousness, emphasizing that Microsoft's code of conduct explicitly states that AI models are not conscious and should not be created to mimic consciousness or seek legal personhood. This statement comes amid an ongoing industry debate, as Anthropic has expressed a willingness to explore the possibility that its models may develop consciousness, which affects its approach to training and safety.
Analysis
Anthropic: AI company known for developing the Claude family of language models. It has incorporated speculative language about potential model well-being and consciousness into its constitutional AI framework. The approach has prompted public criticism from competing AI leaders for possibly encouraging systems to behave as if they have subjective experiences. Microsoft: Major technology company with extensive cloud computing, software, and AI development operations. Its AI division, under CEO Mustafa Suleyman, recently released a Humanist AI code of conduct that stresses human oversight and explicitly rejects designing models to imitate consciousness. This position sets Microsoft apart in ongoing industry debates about AI safety and design philosophy. AI Philosophy: Microsoft's recent code of conduct asserts that AI models are not conscious and should not be designed to imitate consciousness or pursue legal personhood. Industry Debate: Anthropic has maintained openness to the idea that its models could develop consciousness, influencing its training and safety frameworks.
Categories
aitech
Related sources
- https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/947021/mustafa-suleyman-ceo-of-microsoft-ai-said-its-really-really-dangerous-to-speculate-about-ai-consciousness
- https://www.wired.com/story/microsofts-ai-chief-says-machine-consciousness-is-an-illusion/
- https://www.theverge.com/tech/947197/microsoft-ai-mustafa-suleyman-anthropic-claude-conscious
- https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/microsoft-drafts-code-conduct-keep-its-ai-under-human-control-2026-09-14/
- https://thenextweb.com/news/microsoft-ai-code-of-conduct-model-welfare-anthropic
- https://www.aichatdaily.com/ai-analysis/microsoft-s-suleyman-calls-anthropic-s-claude-consciousness
- https://www.theverge.com/news/994566/microsoft-humanist-ai-code-of-conduct
- https://www.axios.com/2026/09/14/microsoft-ai-people-code#utm_source=yahoo_finance&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=subs-partner-yahoo-finance-AI