Microsoft fired the whole team in charge of directing AI innovation toward ethical, responsible, and sustainable outcomes.
According to Tech Crunch, the removal of the ethics and society team is a part of a recent wave of layoffs that affected 10,000 workers throughout the company.
The Move Makes Microsoft's Commitment To Responsible AI Controversial
The team's termination coincides with Microsoft's continued billion-dollar investment in its collaboration with OpenAI, the startup behind AI systems like ChatGPT and DALL-E 2 that produce artwork and text.
With the help of a new, cutting-edge large language model from OpenAI that is "more powerful than ChatGPT and customized specifically for search," Microsoft's Bing search engine and Edge web browser are also being upgraded.
Microsoft no longer has a dedicated team to make sure that its AI principles are closely related to product design as a result of the change.
This comes at a time when the company is leading the drive to make AI capabilities accessible to the general public, according to current and former employees.
However, the Office of Responsible AI, which is entrusted with developing guidelines and norms to direct Microsoft's AI activities, is still operational.
The company claims that despite the recent layoffs, its overall investment in responsible work is rising, The Verge reports.
According to Microsoft, it is committed to creating AI products and experiences in a safe and responsible manner and does this by making investments in businesses, partnerships, and individuals who prioritize this.
The tech giant also acknowledges in a statement how much it values the ground-breaking work its Ethics & Society team made to support it on its ongoing, responsible AI journey.
Additionally, employees reported that the Ethics and Society team was crucial in ensuring that the design of the company's shipped products genuinely reflects its responsible AI standards.
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The Risk Of Exposing Tech Business And Humans To Potential AI Misuse Grows
According to Tech Crunch, the majority of the Ethics and Society team's members were moved to other teams after the reorganization last year.
John Montgomery, corporate vice president of AI, informed the remaining candidates that they would in fact be fired last March 6.
The team members thought they were fired because Microsoft was less concerned with long-term, socially responsible thinking and more concerned with getting its AI products out before the competition.
According to one employee, the transition creates a fundamental gap in the user experience and comprehensive design of AI products.
For tech companies that establish departments devoted to making their products more socially responsible, the issue highlights a recurring tension.
At their best, they assist product teams in envisioning potential technological abuses and resolving any issues before they ship, The Verge says.
It is notable that groups like Microsoft's Ethics and Society division frequently rein in major tech companies by highlighting potential societal effects or legal repercussions.
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