Microsoft released a 37-page code of conduct for its MAI model family on September 14. The document establishes that AI models are not conscious, should not mimic consciousness, and are not eligible for legal personhood.
The guidelines require mandatory human oversight, transparency, and prohibitions on harmful applications. This framework aligns with the company's 2026 Responsible AI Transparency Report published on September 1.
The policy reflects the concept of Humanist Superintelligence, introduced by Mustafa Suleyman in November 2025. It emphasizes human control and deliberate development pacing over autonomous system growth.
The release follows an open letter from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei on September 12–13, which warned of risks from recursive self-improvement and called for an industry-wide slowdown in AI development.
Market reactions to the safety discussions have been noted, with Nasdaq-100 futures declining as investors evaluate the impact of potential development slowdowns on corporate growth projections.
