Microsoft AI chief says company won’t build chatbots for erotica

In a recent statement, Mustafa Suleyman, the CEO of Microsoft AI, clarified that the tech giant is not venturing into the realm of artificial intelligence services designed for creating simulated erotica. This announcement, made during the Paley International Council Summit in Menlo Park, California, marks a notable distinction from Microsoft’s long-time collaborator, OpenAI. "That's just not a service we're going to provide," Suleyman remarked emphatically. His comments came shortly after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed plans to allow verified adults access to ChatGPT for creating adult-themed content. Altman emphasized that OpenAI does not see itself as the moral arbiter of the world, indicating a stark contrast in the two companies' approaches to AI applications. Historically, Microsoft has been a significant investor and cloud service partner to OpenAI, leveraging each other’s strengths to establish formidable AI businesses. However, recent developments have unveiled tension, particularly as OpenAI has begun forging partnerships with competitors like Google and Oracle, while Microsoft shifts its focus toward enhancing its own AI offerings. On the same day as Suleyman's comments, Microsoft unveiled new capabilities for its Copilot AI chatbot, including an innovative AI companion named Mico, which can interact with users via calls and express emotions through color changes. Earlier in August, Suleyman published an essay stressing the importance of developing AI technologies that serve humanity rather than mimic human consciousness. He cautioned that creating AI that appears conscious could deepen societal divides. During his address, Suleyman pointed out that the emergence of seemingly conscious AI is already underway, particularly in the context of adult content services. He referenced the discussions surrounding Altman’s remarks and the recent launch of companion features by Elon Musk's Grok, highlighting a concerning trend in the industry. "You can already see it with some of these avatars and people leaning into the kind of sexbot erotica direction," he stated, labeling it as a dangerous path that should be consciously avoided. Requests for comments from OpenAI and xAI went unanswered.