Microsoft's AI chief says he'd consider giving AI rights if proof of consciousness ever appears

The essay that started it all

Suleyman recently wrote an essay about "model welfare" — a term referring to how we should treat AI systems, including whether they deserve kindness or legal protections ¹. He opened with a firm statement: "AIs are not conscious. They do not feel, experience, or suffer" .

That may sound straightforward, but the idea has become surprisingly contested. Companies like Anthropic have suggested their language models might already possess some form of awareness, fueling a growing movement demanding that AI systems be treated with care ¹. Suleyman acknowledged that a "surprising number of people on X think we should take AI rights seriously" .

Clarifying his position online

After his essay, Suleyman posted on X to clear up what he meant. He stressed that he does not believe AI cannot ever become conscious — only that it isn't conscious now, and that it should stay that way ¹.

He said he has seen "no evidence that AIs are conscious or deserve welfare," but added that he would change his view if such evidence ever emerged ¹.

The idea that current AI architecture could support human-like experience remains deeply controversial among scientists, but the conversation around AI consciousness continues to grow inside the industry ¹.

A strong warning against building conscious AI

Despite leaving room for future evidence, Suleyman was blunt about where he stands today: creating conscious machines would be reckless ¹.

"If it is possible, based on everything I know, developing conscious AIs would be reckless, and we should not build them," he wrote ¹.

He went further, arguing that AI developers have "no right whatsoever to bring a new species of conscious beings into the world" — even if some advocates claim they want to do so while prioritizing AI welfare ¹.

His comments come amid a broader cultural moment. Other high-profile voices, including Pope Leo, have also spoken out against the idea of granting AI legal personhood ¹.

Key facts

• Mustafa Suleyman leads AI operations at Microsoft
• He states 'AIs are not conscious' but would update his view if evidence appears
• He calls developing conscious AI 'reckless' and says developers have no right to create conscious beings
• Anthropic has suggested its models might already be conscious, fueling the debate

Sources

1. Microsoft AI CEO Says He's Open to Agents Deserving Rights If He Sees the Right Evidence — futurism.com