Microsoft’s new ‘Humanist AI’ rules ban weapons, demand human control
Sep 14, 2026, 12:45 PM
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
People matter more than AI.
That’s the core message of Microsoft’s new “Humanist AI Code of Conduct,” a draft framework the company released Monday.
Microsoft’s ‘Humanist AI’ not meant to replace people
“Humanist AI is built to support people, not to replace them,” the document stated. “It should not be designed to be a person. It is not conscious and should not be designed to imitate consciousness. It should be engineered to avoid representing as though it has feelings, subjective preferences, or intrinsic motivation.”
The document, a draft framework for governing Microsoft’s artificial intelligence models, bans them from helping to build weapons, launch cyber-attacks, or evade human control.
AI should not exceed human control, according to the framework, and models should remain subordinate to humanity, subject to meaningful human oversight and control.
“Humanist AI develops systems with clear purposes, evaluated against real-world impact, and rejects the race to produce an all-purpose superintelligence that could evade these safeguards,” the document stated. “We are building something fundamentally useful and safe even if that means compromising on ultimate generality, autonomy, or capability.”
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Trump says he is a sufficient guardrail against rogue AI
Microsoft will finalize the rules after a six-week public comment period.
On social media Monday, President Donald Trump said he is a sufficient guardrail against rogue artificial intelligence. According to The Associated Press, Trump claims any effort to limit the technology is part of a “SICK conspiracy.”
“The only control or ‘guardrails’ that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades!” Trump posted on social media.
Microsoft acknowledged the weight of what it’s building.
“Superintelligence is the most consequential technology of our time,” the company said in the document’s preface. “It will reach far beyond the scope of any one company, shaping the lives and experiences of humanity for generations to come. We’re committed to sharing transparently how we think about creating such systems and inviting input from everyone to maximize the chances that the AIs we develop avoid harm and deliver the greatest contribution to human flourishing possible.”
Once the public comment period closes, Microsoft will begin implementing the new rules as it develops AI models in 2027.
Frank Lenzi is the News Director for KIRO Newsradio. Read more of his stories here.
