If artificial intelligence exploded in 2025, superintelligence will be the star of 2026. “This isn’t a pointless technological goal, an empty challenge, a mountain in itself. We’re doing it to solve real, concrete problems and to do so in a way that remains realistic and controllable,” is how Microsoft describes it. According to Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft’s director of AI, this would be a hypothetical form of AI that seeks to match and surpass human intelligence. Thus, we know that Microsoft plans to develop something significantly more advanced than its current offerings.
This represents a new way of developing and viewing artificial intelligence
The news barely had time to settle in the databases before it generated a lot of discussion. In Microsoft’s words: “At Microsoft AI, we’re working toward Humanistic Superintelligence (HSI): highly advanced AI capabilities that always work for, and in service of, people and humanity as a whole. We think of them as problem-oriented systems that tend to be domain-specific.” This represents a new way of developing and viewing artificial intelligence, from a framework much more focused on utility. “We want to both explore and prioritize how the most advanced forms of AI can keep humanity in control while simultaneously accelerating our path to addressing our most pressing global challenges,” the tech giant explained.
“This is fundamental to Microsoft’s mission to enable others to create and invent on a global scale”
The fact is that in Microsoft’s official statement, they explain this Superintelligence as the culmination of technology, the most revolutionary aspect of the technological revolution of recent years. “AI is the next phase on this path. This is what Satya Nadeya, Microsoft’s CEO, refers to when he talks about increasing global GDP growth to 10%; a transformative boost. As a platform of platforms, this is fundamental to Microsoft’s mission to enable others to create and invent on a global scale.”
“Superintelligence is the most valuable thing we’ve ever known”
Of course, with this major announcement, experts and leading voices in AI worldwide have weighed in. Max Tegmark, a physics professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), offered his perspective. He suggests that if Microsoft intends to develop its superintelligence, it should support legislation mandating the regulation of AI technology. This is a reasonable viewpoint, considering Microsoft refers to superintelligence as “the most valuable thing we’ve ever known.”
Disapproval: A petition has been signed to obstruct the development of Superintelligence
Microsoft’s enthusiasm has also led to staunch opposition to this superintelligence. Tech industry experts have expressed relentless disapproval. In fact, a petition has been signed to obstruct the development of Superintelligence. According to a recent poll, 64% of Americans support this initiative unless a clear consensus is reached, similar to the success of supercomputer teleportation. Meanwhile, Microsoft continues with its project: “Such a system will have an open-ended capacity to ‘learn to learn,’ the ultimate meta-ability. Therefore, it might continue to improve, going far beyond human performance in every imaginable activity.”
The regulations and laws governing this AI are precisely one of the key points of contention among its detractors
Microsoft is also aware of the potential dangers of a superintelligence that learns and improves with practice. “Since this type of superintelligence can continuously improve, we will have to contain and align it not just once, but constantly, forever,” the computing giant explains. The regulations and laws governing this AI are precisely one of the key points of contention among its detractors. Even though Microsoft insists that “the purpose of the technology is to help advance human civilization,” this is still something that experts find difficult to accept without question.
Microsoft sees it “as part of a broader, more humane effort to improve our lives and future prospects.” The company emphasizes the advantages that humanity can gain from this Superintelligence. “We are in this for the long haul to deliver tangible, targeted, and secure benefits to billions of people. We feel a deep responsibility to get this right,” they state.