Musician Krist Novoselic, known for his role in the legendary band Nirvana, took the stage as the spokesperson for a shareholder initiative at Microsoft’s annual meeting. The initiative raised concerns about the company’s rapid advancement in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and its potential impact on long-term shareholder value.
During the virtual meeting, Novoselic emphasized the importance of thoroughly evaluating and addressing the risks associated with Microsoft’s AI initiatives. He expressed apprehension about the company’s swift deployment of generative AI products, such as Bing, without adequate consideration of the associated risks to society, legal implications, and reputation.
As a longstanding Microsoft shareholder, Novoselic highlighted the transformative potential of generative AI while cautioning against prioritizing short-term profits over sustainable success. He urged Microsoft to implement robust risk mitigation practices and to prioritize the long-term implications of its AI ventures.
In response to the shareholder initiative, Microsoft’s President Brad Smith discussed the company’s commitment to AI safety and responsible development. Smith outlined Microsoft’s comprehensive approach to AI governance, emphasizing employee training, software development protocols, and pre-release reviews to ensure ethical AI deployment.
Despite the shareholder proposal calling for a detailed analysis of the risks posed by AI-generated misinformation and disinformation, Microsoft shareholders ultimately voted against the proposal along with eight other external resolutions. The company pledged to provide a detailed report on the voting outcomes within four days.
The shareholder proposal, led by Arjuna Capital, underscored concerns regarding the potential spread of misinformation and disinformation through generative AI technologies like ChatGPT. The proposal highlighted the risks to democracy, public welfare, and Microsoft’s operational and financial integrity posed by AI-driven misinformation.
In its opposition to the proposal, Microsoft emphasized its longstanding efforts to address misinformation and disinformation risks through various initiatives, including public reporting obligations under international codes of practice. The company reiterated its commitment to transparency and responsible AI practices, citing investments in AI governance, threat analysis capabilities, and product-specific measures to combat misinformation.
Microsoft’s response underscored the company’s multi-faceted approach to mitigating misinformation and disinformation risks, including public reporting on AI governance practices and ongoing efforts to uphold information integrity. The company emphasized its investments in responsible AI staff and its dedication to fostering a culture of ethical AI development across its operations.
