Microsoft’s head of AI, Mustafa Suleyman, has urged developers and researchers to abandon the pursuit of artificial consciousness, asserting that AI systems, regardless of sophistication, cannot truly “feel” or experience awareness.
AI Simulates Understanding, But Does Not Feel
Speaking at a recent industry event, Suleyman — co-founder of DeepMind — stressed that AI innovation should prioritize practical intelligence, safety, and human alignment rather than speculative goals like machine sentience. “AI does not experience emotion or awareness. It simulates understanding, but it doesn’t possess subjective experience. Treating it as if it does risks confusion and misplaced responsibility,” he said.
Addressing Immediate AI Challenges
The remarks come amid public debate over AI’s potential consciousness, driven by advances in large language models and generative AI tools that convincingly mimic human conversation. Suleyman cautioned that focusing on sentience could distract the industry from pressing issues such as bias, misuse, and control of powerful AI systems.
Call for Ethical and Purposeful Innovation
Suleyman urged the global AI community to prioritize ethical, transparent, and beneficial AI development. His stance aligns with Microsoft’s strategy of positioning AI as a tool for empowerment rather than an imitation of human consciousness, emphasizing purpose over philosophy as the guiding principle for future AI innovation.
