AI systems should treat all people fairly and avoid affecting similarly situated groups of people in different ways. For example, when AI systems are used in consequential scenarios like medical triage, loan applications, or hiring, they should make recommendations that are consistent for all people with similar symptoms, financial situations, or professional qualifications.
Discriminatory AI outcomes in lending, hiring, or healthcare can cause serious real-world harm; this principle creates an expectation but no enforcement mechanism for affected individuals.
This document describes Microsoft's internal ethical framework for AI and does not directly alter consumer data rights, impose fees, or restrict legal recourse ā it is a voluntary policy statement. Consumers using Microsoft AI products such as Copilot or Azure OpenAI Service are subject to separate, binding Terms of Service and Privacy Policies that govern data collection, use, and sharing. You can review Microsoft's binding Privacy Statement at https://privacy.microsoft.com to understand what data Microsoft actually collects and how it is used.