WSJ Tech News Briefing: Microsoft’s AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman on AGI

Release Date: July 18, 2025

In this insightful episode of the Wall Street Journal’s Bold Names podcast, hosts Tim Higgins and Christopher Mims engage in a comprehensive discussion with Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft’s AI Chief Executive Officer. Suleyman, a pivotal figure in the AI landscape and co-founder of DeepMind and Inflection AI, delves into Microsoft’s AI strategies, the intricate partnership with OpenAI, the future of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), and the ethical implications of AI in society and warfare.

1. Introduction to Mustafa Suleyman and His Role at Microsoft

The conversation begins with an overview of Mustafa Suleyman’s extensive experience in the AI sector. Tim Higgins highlights Suleyman’s transition from co-founding DeepMind at Google to leading Microsoft’s consumer AI products, emphasizing his responsibility in integrating AI through platforms like Windows and Copilot.

Tim Higgins (02:12): "AI is always hot in tech, but now is a particularly fraught and exciting time for the whole industry."

2. Navigating the Partnership with OpenAI

Suleyman elaborates on Microsoft's evolving relationship with OpenAI, a cornerstone of Microsoft’s AI advancements. Despite significant investments—initially $1 billion in 2019 and escalating to nearly $14 billion—the partnership faces complexities as both entities vie for dominance in the AI sector.

Mustafa Suleyman (03:06): "Are a partnership based company that is a platform of platforms, we also have to be AI self-sufficient in many ways too."

This dynamic reflects a balance between collaboration and competition, essential for Microsoft’s strategy against rivals like Google and Meta.

3. AI’s Role in Enhancing Human Capabilities

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the transformative potential of AI assistants. Suleyman envisions AI as a personalized interface that augments human interaction with the digital world, making everyday tasks more efficient and tailored to individual needs.

Mustafa Suleyman (04:59): "Your AI companion is going to become an interface between you and the digital world, helping you book things, buy things, plan, learn, act, connect with everybody else."

He emphasizes that AI should serve to drive progress and reduce suffering, aligning technology’s purpose with humanitarian goals.

4. Personality Engineering in AI Assistants

Differentiating Microsoft’s AI involves “personality engineering,” where AI assistants possess nuanced behaviors to enhance user trust and relatability. Suleyman discusses the importance of subtle emotional cues, avoiding robotic responses to create more engaging and trustworthy interactions.

Mustafa Suleyman (09:19): "A little hesitation in the AI's response actually makes it feel somewhat more familiar and somewhat more trusted."

This approach aims to move beyond formulaic interactions, offering users a more personalized and responsive AI experience.

5. Data Privacy and Trust in AI Personalization

Personalization requires extensive data, raising concerns about privacy and trust. Suleyman addresses these by explaining that AI will use abstracted data representations rather than storing raw personal information, ensuring user data remains secure and less susceptible to breaches.

Mustafa Suleyman (13:14): "Your AI is going to learn the sort of essence of your history of your data and that in itself will still be personally identifying."

He reassures that data handling will prioritize security through methods like end-to-end encryption and ephemeral data storage.

6. Reflecting User Values and Avoiding Echo Chambers

The discussion highlights the risk of AI reinforcing user biases, akin to social media echo chambers. Suleyman acknowledges this danger and underscores Microsoft’s commitment to creating balanced and fair-minded AI, leveraging detailed natural language feedback to foster more nuanced and less biased interactions.

Mustafa Suleyman (15:06): "Copilot will ask you, was this a helpful answer? Was it useful? Was it interesting?"

This feedback mechanism aims to refine AI responses, mitigating the simplistic reinforcement of existing biases.

7. Emotional Influence of AI and Ethical Safeguards

As AI becomes more emotionally intelligent, concerns arise about manipulation and emotional exploitation. Suleyman reflects on his experience with compassionate AI designs, advocating for respectful and supportive interactions while recognizing the potential for misuse. He calls for increased oversight and regulation to ensure AI serves humanity positively.

Mustafa Suleyman (17:57): "AI is going to be very, very good at listening and being respectful."

He emphasizes the need for transparency and public dialogue to navigate the ethical landscape of emotionally aware AI.

8. Skepticism on Imminent AGI

While acknowledging the rapid advancements in AI, Suleyman expresses skepticism about the near-term arrival of AGI, defining it as AI that matches human performance across all tasks. He differentiates between humanist superintelligence, focused on enhancing human well-being, and the broader, more unpredictable concept of AGI.

Mustafa Suleyman (23:24): "Soon to me is sometime in the next 10 years."

He stresses that the immediate focus should be on domain-specific AI that addresses critical societal needs, rather than chasing AGI for its own sake.

9. Microsoft’s Role in the AI Ecosystem

Suleyman articulates Microsoft’s strategy as a blend of collaboration and self-reliance in AI development. While leveraging partnerships like OpenAI, Microsoft also invests in building proprietary models to ensure independence and innovation.

Mustafa Suleyman (26:24): "There's a lot of creative friction. They build and sell APIs as well as obviously Chatbots and we do the same."

He envisions Microsoft as a steadfast player shaping AI technologies that prioritize user needs and ethical considerations.

10. AI in Warfare and Ethical Implications

Addressing the militarization of AI, Suleyman warns about the reduced costs and increased accessibility of AI-powered weapons, which could escalate conflicts and empower non-state actors. He advocates for cautious development and stringent safeguards to prevent autonomous warfare technologies from spiraling out of control.

Mustafa Suleyman (30:51): "If it doesn't scare you and it doesn't give you pause for thought, then I think you're missing the point because it is going to reduce the cost and effort of going to war."

Suleyman underscores the urgent need for international dialogue and regulation to manage the ethical dimensions of AI in military applications.

11. Concluding Thoughts: Human-Centric AI

Suleyman wraps up by reiterating Microsoft’s commitment to developing humanist superintelligence—AI that aligns with and serves human interests, fostering choice and freedom. He contrasts this vision with unchecked superintelligence, advocating for technology that promotes abundance and societal well-being.

Mustafa Suleyman (32:32): "The goal isn't super intelligence for its own sake... Humanist super intelligence is the kind of superintelligence that we're really aiming for."

This philosophy drives Microsoft’s AI initiatives, ensuring that advancements enhance rather than undermine human progress.

Key Takeaways

• Partnership Dynamics: Microsoft’s collaboration with OpenAI is pivotal yet complex, balancing cooperation with competitive innovation.

• Human-Centric AI: Emphasizing AI as a tool to augment human capabilities and reduce suffering aligns technology with humanitarian goals.

• Ethical Considerations: From data privacy to the militarization of AI, Suleyman highlights the necessity of ethical frameworks and regulatory oversight.

• Skepticism Towards AGI: A pragmatic approach to AGI focuses on achievable, domain-specific advancements that directly benefit society.

• Future of Interaction: Transitioning to conversational AI interfaces promises more intuitive and personalized user experiences, reshaping how we interact with technology.

This episode offers a profound exploration of the current AI landscape, Microsoft's strategic positioning, and the ethical imperatives guiding future developments. Suleyman's insights provide a balanced perspective on the promises and challenges of AI, advocating for a technology that truly serves humanity.