AI Trailblazers Microsoft and OpenAI Push For Regulation
Microsoft and OpenAI, two of the largest players in the continuing wave of AI products, are pushing for regulation of the technology. Microsoft released a new report outlining their ideas and recommendations for creating responsible AI. The five key proposals include: crafting new government frameworks, instituting safety brakes, establishing a new government agency to develop laws and regulations, and early contemplation of potential problems that could arise.
The tech titan put behind their own platform in order to control AI misuse, after having introduced restrictions to their facial recognition technology last year. With Microsoft’s help, OpenAI created ChatGPT, an advanced AI chatbot. Subsequently, Microsoft has been incorporating AI into a prolific number of their products, including personal and enterprise assistants, cybersecurity, and Windows 11. In their latest introduction, Microsoft updated Bing with OpenAI technology, thus shaking up the search engine market previously dominated by Google.
OpenAI has taken a different approach to AI regulation; CEO Sam Altman recently expressed his views about AI misuse in a US congressional hearing and requested for legislation to be brought to bear. OpenAI has also launched a €100,000 grant program for experiments into “democratic inputs to AI”. This activity aims to create democracy in the control of AI protocols, by allowing the public to participate in its development and decisions.
On the contrary, OpenAI has vehemently opposed the EU’s AI Act, which holds AI companies liable for how their systems are being used. Altman threatened to pull out of the EU market due to potential discrepancies with the regulation, although it remains to be seen if this actually occurs.
Microsoft
Microsoft is an American multinational technology company based in Redmond, Washington, most famous for its Windows products and its Office and Xbox software. Founded in 1975, Microsoft has since grown to become one of the world’s leading tech brands. The company has developed a wide range of products, including video games, online services, and software applications. Microsoft has also made a strong push to develop and implement AI technology into its products.
Brad Smith
Brad Smith is a graduate of the University of Indiana and the current president and vice chair of Microsoft. Smith has supplied Microsoft’s paper on the regulation of AI with a foreword; he commented on the need for a collective responsibility and called on governments to take decisive action. As the head of Microsoft, Smith has also spearheaded the company’s responsible AI use agenda.
