Microsoft AI chief says only biological beings can be conscious

Core Viewpoint - Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, asserts that only biological beings possess consciousness and urges developers to cease projects that imply otherwise [2][8]. Group 1: AI Consciousness Debate - Suleyman emphasizes that pursuing the idea of conscious AI is misguided, stating that asking the wrong questions leads to incorrect conclusions [2][8]. - He argues that AI does not experience emotions or pain, highlighting the distinction between AI's capabilities and human experiences [5][6]. - The concept of biological naturalism, which posits that consciousness arises from living brain processes, is referenced to support his stance [5]. Group 2: Microsoft’s AI Strategy - Microsoft is committed to developing AI that serves human needs rather than mimicking human consciousness, as stated by Suleyman [14][15]. - The company has recently introduced features like "real talk" in its Copilot AI service, which aims to challenge users' perspectives [15][16]. - Suleyman joined Microsoft to enhance its AI capabilities, emphasizing the need for self-sufficiency in AI development [13][11]. Group 3: Industry Context and Competition - The AI companion market is rapidly expanding, with competitors like Meta and xAI, but Microsoft maintains a distinct approach by avoiding certain controversial applications [3][10]. - Recent tensions have emerged between Microsoft and OpenAI, as OpenAI explores partnerships with other tech giants [14]. - California's new legislation requires chatbots to disclose their AI nature, reflecting growing regulatory scrutiny in the AI space [14].