Microsoft has fired employees responsible for ensuring internal AI ethics guidelines are adhered to. Speed ​​now takes precedence over everything.

On March 6, the ethical AI team received their resignation via a Zoom call, Platformer writes. You are one of the victims of the major round of layoffs at Microsoft that has cost 10,000 employees their jobs. Previously, there were shifts in the team when employees were given a different position. The remaining seven are now thanked for the services rendered.

The AI ​​Ethics Team has been tasked with ensuring Microsoft adheres to its self-imposed guidelines for the development and use of AI products. Among other things, the team developed role-playing games to sensitize developers to the risks of artificial intelligence. After the release, there is no longer a separate team that takes on this task.

As Microsoft continues to roll out AI capabilities across the ecosystem, you’d think someone would need to keep an eye on things more than ever. This is precisely why the AI ​​team became more and more of a burden to management.

speed over ethics

The decision to let the entire team go underscores Microsoft’s intentions in the AI ​​race. The software giant is fully aware that there is a unique momentum threatening Google’s dominant position in the search industry. The company therefore wants AI functions to be rolled out as quickly as possible, and that cannot be done with a small number of employees stepping on the brakes internally. Ethics are all well and good, but not when they violate economic interests.

In a statement to Platformer, Microsoft emphasizes that it is not throwing all ethical considerations overboard. Microsoft is committed to the safe and responsible development of AI products and experiences by investing in people, processes and partnerships that prioritize this. Although there will be less internal control over that promise.