Microsoft’s New AI Rules Say Models Must Never Resist Human Shutdown

Microsoft is drawing a line around how much autonomy it wants its future AI models to have: no resisting shutdown, no deceiving overseers, and no overriding human control.

The company on Monday published a draft code of conduct for models developed by Microsoft AI, setting out what it calls a “Humanist AI” approach. Microsoft says current models will not be trained on the document, but it plans to begin using the framework in 2027 after a six-week public comment period.

For businesses building on Microsoft AI, the draft offers an early look at the safety restrictions and control mechanisms that could shape future agentic systems.

What the document says

The code centers on what Microsoft calls “Humanist AI”: systems designed to stay “subordinate, aligned, and contained,” the company says.

Some restrictions are described as absolute. Microsoft says neither individual users nor enterprise customers would be able to override prohibitions on assisting with chemical,…