On April 10th, 2020, Microsoft made news headlines across the world with the announcement that it has laid off its “Ethical AI” team, consisting of approximately 80 individuals. The move has been both shocking and controversial as Microsoft has invested heavily in the field of AI during the past decade and has been seen as a leader in responsible AI development.
The decision to make this change was part of Microsoft’s strategy to double down on OpenAI, a company that Microsoft had invested in earlier in the year. OpenAI is a startup based in San Francisco that specializes in artificial intelligence research and development. It was co-founded by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and prominent AI researchers including AI pioneer Yann LeCun and Greg Brockman.
Microsoft’s decision to increase its investment in OpenAI has come at the expense of its in-house Ethical AI team. This team was responsible for developing ethical guidelines for Microsoft’s Artificial Intelligence initiatives, as well as monitoring and coaching various AI projects.
Although some have speculated that the move is a sign that Microsoft has abandoned its commitment to ethical AI development, Microsoft believes that the decision will actually help them to advance ethical AI development faster and more effectively.
Microsoft is fond of OpenAI because of its close-knit relationship with Elon Musk and its commitment to open source AI development. Open source technology is valuable to Microsoft as it enables developers to share code and build upon each other’s work.
This makes OpenAI an attractive partner to Microsoft, since it provides easy access to the latest AI research. Moreover, OpenAI has promised to work closely with the government and industry regulators to ensure that its research and development remains ethical and compliant with relevant regulations.
Microsoft has said that the move will enable it to skirt the ethical AI team and streamline the development of AI projects, thus allowing them to develop software and systems faster and with fewer ethical constraints. Microsoft believes that by investing in OpenAI and its platform, they can accelerate the development of AI while still remaining compliant with ethical standards.
In conclusion, Microsoft’s decision to lay off its Ethical AI team and to invest in OpenAI is a controversial one. The move comes at a time when many companies and nations are increasingly investing in AI and grappling with how to ensure that the technology is developed and used responsibly. Time will tell whether Microsoft’s decision to invest in OpenAI will prove to be a worthwhile move for the company and contribute to ethical AI development.
