With reference to Microsoft's draft AI code of conduct, consider the following statements: 1. The draft mandates that AI models must not resist shutdowns or corrections. 2. The draft asserts that AI models possess consciousness and are eligible for legal personhood. 3. The draft was opened for public feedback for a period of six weeks. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Microsoft drafts AI code: No resistance to shutdowns, open for feedback

GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· IT, AI, semiconductors & computing· Prelims· 15 September 2026

AI governance and ethics: a relevant GS3 Science & Technology and Ethics case study.

Why in news

Microsoft unveiled a draft code of conduct for its AI models to ensure human control, safety, and non-resistance to shutdowns following safety concerns raised by industry peers.

Background

The draft code was developed over five to six months and mandates that AI must not resist shutdowns or corrections. It explicitly asserts that AI lacks consciousness and rejects legal personhood.

Facts for Prelims

S&TMicrosoft's AI code of conduct mandates that AI must not resist shutdowns or corrections.
FactMicrosoft opened the draft code for public feedback for a period of six weeks.
S&TThe draft code asserts that AI lacks consciousness and rejects legal personhood.

Prelims practice question

With reference to Microsoft's draft AI code of conduct, consider the following statements:

The draft mandates that AI models must not resist shutdowns or corrections.
The draft asserts that AI models possess consciousness and are eligible for legal personhood.
The draft was opened for public feedback for a period of six weeks.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)2 only
(b)1 and 2 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)2 and 3 only

Show answer

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only — Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is incorrect: The draft asserts that AI lacks consciousness and rejects legal personhood.

For Mains

Q. Discuss the necessity of establishing international regulatory frameworks for AI safety and human-centric control to mitigate risks of autonomous systems.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

Accountability gap: Difficulty in assigning legal liability to non-conscious AI entities
Safety-innovation trade-off: Balancing rapid AI deployment with mandatory human-override protocols
Governance friction: Conflict between private corporate safety standards and public regulatory oversight

Keywords: Human-centric AI · Algorithmic accountability · AI safety protocols · Legal personhood · Technological governance

Read the full news →Source: NDTV ↗Also: GS4 · Ethics in technology & business

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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.