Microsoft · Responsible AI

Six Responsible AI Principles

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What it is

Microsoft commits to building AI systems that are fair, safe, private, inclusive, transparent, and accountable — these are the six guiding principles for all its AI work.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

These six principles shape how Microsoft AI products are designed and could affect fairness of outcomes — for example, whether AI hiring tools or credit decisions treat users equitably — but they are not legally enforceable commitments consumers can rely on in court.

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Why it matters (compliance & risk perspective)

These principles define how Microsoft says it will design and operate AI products, which affects whether AI tools treat users fairly and protect their data.

View original clause language
At Microsoft, we've been on a learning journey to define responsible AI: AI systems that are developed and used in a responsible manner. Our responsible AI principles are: fairness, reliability and safety, privacy and security, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability.

Institutional analysis (Compliance & legal intelligence)

(1) REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: The six principles map directly to obligations under the EU AI Act (Articles 9-15 on risk management, transparency, and human oversight for high-risk AI), GDPR Art. 5 (principles of data processing including fairness, transparency, accountability), NIST AI RMF (Govern, Map, Measure, Manage functions), and FTC Act Section 5 (deceptive practices if principles are publicly stated but not implemented). The EU AI Office and national DPAs are primary enforcement authorities in the EU; the FTC has primary authority in the US. (2)

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Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    FTC has enforcement authority over deceptive or unfair AI practices under Section 5 if stated responsible AI principles are not implemented in Microsoft's products.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
Responsible AI
Entity
Microsoft
Document last updated
March 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
April 27, 2026
Last verified
April 27, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-003109
Document ID
CA-D-00003
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
17d4b7dd772937329cdd57fe4bced78e38fc42b1260d418279febdf8127cc1d7
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Microsoft | Document: Responsible AI | Record: CA-P-003109
Captured: 2026-04-27 08:55:46 UTC | SHA-256: 17d4b7dd77293732…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/microsoft/responsible-ai/six-responsible-ai-principles/
Accessed: May 2, 2026
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