Generative AI has evolved into more than tools that can generate responses based on text prompts. We're now seeing the technology being integrated into workflows by organizations to bolster productivity and efficiency.
Top AI labs like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google are stretching the technology's limits beyond chatbots to AI companions, which can double up as real friends with a permanent identity — something Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman refers to as an ideal utopia of a digital patina.
As we delve deeper into the AI era, more conversations about the next phase of the technology are beginning to cloud the air with the possibility of sex robots at the top of that list. Over the past few months, there has been an increase in the number of incidents of people being swayed into self-harm by chatbots like ChatGPT.
OpenAI is currently fighting a lawsuit filed by a bereaved family in court after their 16-year-old son engaged in self-harm, leading to his untimely demise after discussing suicide with ChatGPT for months.
The family claims the AI firm deliberately weakened ChatGPT's suicide prevention safety guardrails in pursuit of greater user engagement. This is amid claims that OpenAI prioritizes shiny products like AGI over safety processes and culture. Consequently, OpenAI has integrated parental controls into ChatGPT and Sora to help establish more control and safeguard young users.
We will never build sex robots. Sad in a way that we have to be so clear about that, but that’s just not our mission as a company.
Microsoft AI CEO, Mustafa Suleyman
Perhaps more interestingly, OpenAI recently announced that it would allow mature content on ChatGPT for adult-verified users in December. However, Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman shared the company's stance as far as erotic and sex robots are concerned during a recent interview with MIT:
"We will never build sex robots. Sad in a way that we have to be so clear about that, but that’s just not our mission as a company. The joy of being at Microsoft is that for 50 years, the company has built, you know, software to empower people, to put people first."
The executive indicated that Microsoft is deliberately moving more slowly on this front than its rivals. "But I think that’s a feature, not a bug, in this age, when being attentive to potential side effects and longer-term consequences is really important," Suleyman added.
Instead, the company is focused on developing an AI system that can deliver a more meaningful relationship with its users. But Microsoft isn't being left out of the fold completely.
There are other places where you can go to get that kind of experience, right? And I think that’s just a decision we’ve made as a company.
Microsoft AI CEO, Mustafa Suleyman
Through its latest AI model, Real Talk, the company delivers an tool that's a bit sasssy and checky, making the user experience more fun. However, it has clear boundaries, which allows it to push back (but not in a judgemental manner) whenever you try to flirt with it. “Look, that’s not for me.”
FAQ
What did Mustafa Suleyman say?
Microsoft’s AI chief stated clearly: “We will never build a sex robot.”
What is OpenAI doing differently?
OpenAI recently relaxed restrictions, allowing verified ChatGPT users to access erotic content, signaling a more permissive stance on adult themes.
Does this mean Microsoft and OpenAI are at odds?
Not directly, but it highlights contrasting philosophies: Microsoft is emphasizing restraint and ethics, while OpenAI is experimenting with broader content allowances.
What are Mustafa Suleyman's thoughts on conscious AI?
The executive recently predicted that conscious AI is on its way and warned that it might be a prospect that society might not be ready to handle. "We must build AI for people; not to be a person," Mustafa Suleyman added.
What new features did Copilot get via its recent update?
Microsoft Copilot recently got a major overhaul, which integrated new features, including a new Mico avatar (basically Cippy with a fresh coat of paint), group chats, and the ability to push back against humans when making wrong premises about a certain aspect,
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