Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has emphasized the need for global coordination and consensus on artificial intelligence (AI) standards and safeguards. During the World Economic Forum (WEF-Davos 2024) in Switzerland’s Davos, Nadella acknowledged the importance of countries discussing the implementation of protective measures for AI. He expressed his belief that a global regulatory approach is highly desirable, as the challenges posed by AI are global in nature and necessitate international standards and cooperation. Nadella highlighted the difficulties in containing and enforcing regulations without a unified global framework.
Regarding Microsoft’s involvement in AI, the company is a key player in the race among major American tech firms. Microsoft has made significant investments in OpenAI, the organization behind the popular AI robot ChatGPT.
During Davos 2024, Nadella expressed uncertainty about the possibility of establishing a global regulatory presence for AI. However, he acknowledged that he observed countries engaging in discussions about applying safeguards to AI in a similar manner.
Additionally, Nadella emphasized the desirability of a global regulatory approach to address the global challenges posed by AI, emphasizing the need for international standards and cooperation. Speaking to WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab, Nadella highlighted the difficulties in containing and enforcing regulations without a unified global framework.
Nadella supports OpenAI’s governance structure
Regarding Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI, Nadella stated that he had no issue with the governance structure of the non-profit startup. This statement came two months after OpenAI’s board temporarily removed CEO Sam Altman, leading to a crisis within the organization behind ChatGPT. The abrupt dismissal of Altman sparked concerns among employees, some of whom threatened mass resignations to join Microsoft, a major supporter of OpenAI. Nadella expressed his comfort with the existing structure and stated that he had no problems with it.
After the initial upheaval, OpenAI’s board of directors restored Altman to his position and is currently working on filling vacant board positions.
As part of their partnership, Microsoft now holds a non-voting observer position on the OpenAI Council. In response to ongoing investigations by European and British regulators into the close ties between Microsoft and OpenAI, Nadella stated that he does not seek greater control over OpenAI.
Nadella described Microsoft’s investments in computing power and its early support for OpenAI, even before its ChatGPT fame, as a “risky bet” and not “all conventional wisdom”.
Read more: IMF warns: AI poses risk to 40 percent of jobs worldwide
The importance of an energy boom
During a session at Davos 2024, Altman emphasized the crucial need for an energy boom to support the future of AI, which is expected to consume significantly more energy than anticipated. However, he expressed optimism about the potential of climate-friendly energy sources, particularly nuclear fusion, affordable solar energy, and advanced energy storage solutions, as the way forward for AI development.
Altman highlighted the importance of investing in integration to achieve the necessary energy penetration for AI advancements. In line with this, Altman’s investment of $375 million in Helion Energy, a U.S. private nuclear merger, in 2021 has resulted in a power supply agreement between Helion Energy and Microsoft for the upcoming years.
Furthermore, Vodafone has entered into a 10-year partnership with Microsoft to provide AI, digital, enterprise, and cloud services to over 300 million businesses and consumers in European and African markets. As part of the collaboration, Vodafone plans to invest $1.5 billion in customer-focused AI solutions utilizing Microsoft’s Azure Open AI and AI technologies. This investment aims to replace physical data centers with more cost-effective and scalable Azure cloud services.
In return, Microsoft will become a stock investor in Vodafone’s Internet of Things (IoT) platform upon its launch as an independent company in April. Microsoft will also support the expansion of Vodafone’s mobile financial platform in Africa, strengthening their cooperation in the region.
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