Krist Novoselic, co-founder and bass guitarist for the seminal rock band Nirvana, just lately led a shareholder proposal presentation urging Microsoft to reevaluate its method to generative synthetic intelligence (AI).
Known as Shareholder Proposal 13: Report on AI Misinformation and Disinformation, per a press launch, the proposal was submitted by Arjuna Capital “on behalf of Krist Novoselic” and several other different shareholder teams.
“Novoselic, co-founder and band member of Nirvana, will current the proposal citing issues that Microsoft has not absolutely thought-about the enterprise and societal dangers of generative AI amid its fast deployment of the know-how.”
Proposed synthetic intelligence dangers
The proposal cited a number of key shareholder issues, together with the potential for Microsoft-developed or -backed fashions to take part within the unfold of mass disinformation and misinformation.
It additionally introduced up questions surrounding whether or not Part 230, a regulation giving web hosts and web site customers restricted protections towards legal responsibility for content material from third events, would even apply to content material generated by the host’s personal generative synthetic intelligence methods.
In his presentation, Novoselic requested, “What occurs when society depends on data generated by means of Microsoft’s AI-powered Bing, a platform discovered to provide inaccurate solutions ten % of the time?” He additionally introduced up the requires a six-month pause on AI growth from specialists earlier this 12 months, which Microsoft, alongside the remainder of the business, selected to not heed.
In line with Novoselic, Microsoft’s rush to market “seemingly prioritized quick time period income over long run success.”
Microsoft’s response
Microsoft’s board responded to the proposal by stating it had “already fulfilled the proposal’s request with current and upcoming reporting.” Nevertheless, in line with Arjun Capital, the proposal’s function was to get “data that goes past these stories’ generic commitments to accountable AI.”
Particularly, the shareholders behind the proposal sought to spur Microsoft to comprehensively assess the danger related to generative AI in the long run.
Citing its present applications and reporting as adequate, Microsoft’s board made the advice that shareholders deny the proposal. The proposal didn’t go a subsequent shareholder vote.
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