The Information Machine
Following·Day 2·first covered 15 Sep 2026·2 sources

Microsoft AI Code of Conduct Rejects Model Personhood, Backs Human Control

The gist

Microsoft is staking out a formal position that AI should operate inside a clear human authority structure rather than as an independent agent with moral status. Suleyman argues that extending any form of rights to AI entities would make the containment and alignment challenge harder.

The full picture

Microsoft published a draft Code of Conduct for its MAI models that rejects AI legal personhood and requires models to stop when humans pause, redirect, cancel, or shut down tasks. The document says models should not claim feelings, consciousness, or independent motivations, and that Microsoft would accept reduced AI autonomy or capability if meaningful human control requires it. The document is described as a roadmap for development into 2027, not a description of current models. Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman has stated that treating models as though they have feelings, preferences, or rights is not justified by current evidence and would make AI alignment harder.

How it developed
16 September 2026

Mustafa Suleyman quoted arguing that treating AI as having feelings or rights is unjustified and would complicate alignment

15 September 2026

Microsoft publishes draft Code of Conduct for MAI models rejecting AI personhood and requiring human control

Sources
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