Microsoft has laid off its entire ethical AI team, according to an internal memo obtained by TechCrunch. The team was responsible for ensuring that the company’s AI technology was being developed and deployed in an ethical and responsible manner.
The move comes as Microsoft doubles down on its investment in OpenAI, a research organization focused on developing AI technology that is safe and beneficial for humanity.
Microsoft has committed $1 billion to OpenAI and has a close partnership with the organization.
In the memo, Microsoft said that the decision to lay off the ethical AI team was made in order to “streamline its operations and increase its focus on AI research and development.”
The company said that it will continue to ensure that its AI technology is developed and deployed in an ethical and responsible manner, but that this responsibility will be shared across different teams and departments.
Microsoft still maintains an active Office of Responsible AI, which continuously monitors and governs the company’s AI principles.
John Montgomery, corporate vice president of AI at Microsoft, commented on the news internally which was later obtained by Platformer.
“It’s not that it’s going away — it’s that it’s evolving,” he said. “It’s evolving toward putting more of the energy within the individual product teams that are building the services and the software, which does mean that the central hub that has been doing some of the work is devolving its abilities and responsibilities.”
“Our job was to create rules in areas where there were none”
Microsoft internal statement
The decision has been met with criticism from some in the AI community, who argue that Microsoft’s move sends the wrong message about the importance of ethics in AI development. They argue that ethics cannot be an afterthought or a secondary concern, and that companies must prioritize ethical considerations from the outset.
Others have pointed out that the decision to lay off the ethical AI team may have been driven by financial considerations, as Microsoft looks to cut costs and boost its bottom line. The company has faced pressure from investors to improve its financial performance in recent years.
Microsoft’s investment in OpenAI has been seen as a key part of its strategy to stay at the forefront of AI development. OpenAI has made significant progress in developing advanced AI technology, and Microsoft’s partnership with the organization gives it access to some of the world’s leading AI researchers and developers.
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