Microsoft has released a new 37-page document titled a "humanist AI code of conduct" in response to mounting industry pressure regarding the safety and rapid evolution of artificial intelligence. The policy establishes a core principle that "people matter more than AI," asserting that AI systems are not conscious entities and should not be engineered to simulate human consciousness.

This move follows recent public warnings from prominent figures in the technology sector. Notably, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei recently advocated for a coordinated deceleration in AI development. These concerns stem from research suggesting that the speed at which AI models are advancing may soon outpace the industry's ability to safely deploy, verify, and maintain control over increasingly complex autonomous agents. While Microsoft’s new guidelines aim to address these ethical and safety-related anxieties, the company has also explicitly rejected certain unnamed approaches to AI development, signaling a push for a more standardized, human-focused framework for future innovation.