Microsoft announced a series of principles for AI development and deployment, and an investment in Mistral AI.
Microsoft outlined a series of principles for its development and deployment of artificial intelligence, including a pledge to partner with a “broad array” of companies and other players in the industry.
The company announced a multi-year partnership and an investment of undisclosed size in French startup Mistral AI as an example of its approach. Mistral AI will be able to train and deploy its AI models via Microsoft’s data centers, and Microsoft will make Mistral AI’s models available to customers through its Azure cloud service.
“We’re focused not just on proprietary software, not just on our partnership with OpenAI, as critical as it is, but with a wide number of companies,” said Brad Smith, the Microsoft president and vice chair, outlining the company’s AI access principles during a keynote address at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Monday.
The principles include commitments to provide broad access and support for AI developers; ensure choice and fairness across the emerging AI economy; operate in a socially responsible manner on issues of privacy, safety, and security; support strong physical and cybersecurity; promote people-centered AI; and invest in AI skilling initiatives.
Smith said the AI principles build on Microsoft’s “Windows Principles,” which the company outlined in 2006 in an effort to address and move on from longstanding antitrust challenges over its dominant PC operating system.
