Microsoft just threw down the gauntlet in the AGI race. The tech giant's AI division announced a new team dedicated to building "humanist superintelligence" - a direct challenge to OpenAI as both companies can now independently develop artificial general intelligence. This isn't just corporate positioning; it's the opening shot in what could reshape the entire AI landscape.
Microsoft just declared open season on the AGI race. The company's AI division announced Thursday it's forming a dedicated team to develop "humanist superintelligence" - AI that's supposedly designed to keep humans "at the top of the food chain." But don't let the friendly branding fool you. This is Microsoft drawing battle lines against its former AI partner OpenAI.
The announcement comes from Mustafa Suleyman, who joined Microsoft last year as CEO of Microsoft AI. In a lengthy blog post, Suleyman outlined his vision for superintelligence that won't be "an unbounded and unlimited entity with high degrees of autonomy" but instead remains "carefully calibrated, contextualized, within limits."
The timing isn't coincidental. Microsoft can now "independently pursue AGI alone or in partnership with third parties" under a new deal with OpenAI. Even more significantly, Microsoft has legal rights to use OpenAI's intellectual property to develop its own AGI systems. That's a massive shift from their previous partnership model.
Suleyman's team has already launched Microsoft's first in-house AI models for text, voice, and image generation. Now they're aiming higher - much higher. The "humanist" approach focuses on three key applications: AI companions that help people "learn, act, be productive, and feel supported," healthcare assistance systems, and breakthrough discoveries in clean energy.
"At Microsoft AI, we believe humans matter more than AI," Suleyman writes. "Humanist superintelligence keeps us humans at the centre of the picture. It's AI that's on humanity's team, a subordinate, controllable AI, one that won't, that can't open a Pandora's Box."
But here's where it gets interesting. Despite claiming Microsoft AI will "reject narratives about a race to AGI," the company is clearly positioning itself to win that exact race. The restructured relationship with OpenAI means both companies are now free to compete directly for the AGI crown. As , "Microsoft is perfectly within its legal rights to use OpenAI's IP to develop its own AGI and attempt to win the race."
