Microsoft reportedly axes team that is focused on AI Ethics. The group according to reports played a crucial role in ensuring that the AI principles of Microsoft actually were built into its products.
Microsoft Reportedly Axes Team Focused On AI Ethics
Just last month, Microsoft newly launched AI-powered Bing search seems to have struck a chord with potential users. And the company on Tuesday confirmed that the new Bing is powered by GPT-4 which is an artificial intelligence company that is a follow-up to Open AI’s popular AI chatbot.
And while Microsoft continues to develop its AI tools, the tech company reportedly has laid off a team that played a very important role in making sure that the products of the company incorporate AI in an ethical way.
Microsoft Lays off 10,000 Workers In January
Among the 10,000 employees laid off by Microsoft in January, the entire ethics and society team that are within the AI section of the company was cut, as per a Monday report by Platformer. Microsoft however still has an Office of Responsible AI to create the rules and principles for all of its AI initiatives, but the now former team according to reports worked to make sure that those principles were reflected in actual products. The team also was assessing potential risks that are posed by integrating OpenAI’s technology into Microsoft’s suite of products, as per Platformer.
Microsoft did not respond immediately to a request for comment, but it however told Platformer that it is committed to developing AI products and experiences responsibly and safely.
Microsoft’s Statement to Platformer in Regard to the News
“Over the past six years we have increased the number of people across our product teams and within the Office of Responsible AI who, along with all of us at Microsoft, are accountable for ensuring we put our AI principles into practice,” the company in a statement said to Platformer. “We appreciate the trailblazing work the ethics and society team did to help us on our ongoing responsible AI journey.”
Microsoft Pledges to Spend Billions on AI
Microsoft back in January pledged to spend billions on AI as it continues to expand its partnership and collaboration with OpenAI
