"Microsoft has exploited the term 'celebrity' to include people who merely work online and have a digital identity."

Microsoft quietly deletes massive facial recognition database

MS U-Turn

Microsoft just quietly deleted a facial recognition database that contains more than 10 million images of around 100,000 people.

Microsoft Quietly Deletes Massive Facial Recognition Database

Company executives have been very vocal about limiting facial recognition software in the past.

Minecraft Earth: Official Reveal Trailer

New "Minecraft" game will let you build stuff in the real world

Minecraft Earth

"Minecraft Earth," announced today, will allow users to collect items, blocks, and creatures while roaming around in the real world with friends.

New “Minecraft” Game Will Let You Build Stuff in the Real World

Can persistent "Minecraft" structures in the real world recreate the success of "Pokémon Go"?

It'll suggest you change "policeman" to "police officer," for example.

Microsoft Word’s new "AI editor" scolds you for gendered language

Woke Writing

The new Microsoft Ideas feature for Word uses artificial intelligence to ensure your writing doesn't feature non-inclusive language.

Microsoft Word’s New “AI Editor” Scolds You for Gendered Language

Microsoft's AI will ensure your writing is free of subtle sexism.

The live haptic feedback reads off on-screen text for people who can't make it out.

Microsoft patented an Xbox controller with a Braille display

Accessible Gaming

A new Microsoft patent shows an Xbox controller with a live Braille display to help visually impaired gamers get the full experience of a game or live chat.

Microsoft Patented an Xbox Controller With a Braille Display

The live feed of Braille makes in-game text more accessible.

Online purchases are really more of rentals.

Microsoft is closing an eBook store, deleting all books you bought

One-Sided Arrangement

Microsoft is set to close its ebook store. Once it does, every book purchased on the platform will be deleted and refunded.

Microsoft is Closing an eBook Store, Deleting All Books You Bought

The news serves as a reminder that people don't own digital media.

Technology build in U.S. labs is being used to monitor and detain minorities in China.

Americans built tech for China's sinister "re-education camps"

Unethical Teamwork

Though Google's Project Dragonfly made headlines, a number of American scientists are helping Chinese build its ubiquitous surveillance state.

Americans Built Tech for China’s Sinister “Re-Education Camps”

MIT and Yale — and possibly Microsoft — are helping build China's surveillance state.

In November, Microsoft signed a $479 million contract with the Army supplying them with more than 100,000 specialized HoloLens headsets.

Employees demand Microsoft to cancel U.S. Army HoloLens contract

HoloLens Warfare

Employees at Microsoft signed a letter calling for the company to cancel a military contract that would supply U.S. Army soldiers with HoloLens AR headsets. 

Employees Demand Microsoft Cancel U.S. Army HoloLens Contract

"Intent to harm is not an acceptable use of our technology."

Brad Smith and Pope Francis walk into a bar...

Microsoft's president met with the pope to talk about ethical AI

Saintly Robotics

Pope Francis and Microsoft's Brad Smith met recently to discuss how AI could be developed in an ethical way and announced a new ethical AI contest.

Microsoft’s President Met With the Pope to Talk About Ethical AI

The Vatican wants to make sure AI serves humanity.

It's warning investors that the road ahead could be bumpy.

Microsoft is worried biased AI will hurt its reputation

AI Infamy

In a recent filing with the SEC, Microsoft warns investors that faulty or biased AI could potentially harm the company's reputation.

Microsoft Is Worried Its AI Will Go Rogue and Hurt Its Reputation

The company got burned when its chatbot turned into a Nazi. Now it's worried about the future.

It's as close to silence as whispers get.

Microsoft patents "silent" voice command technology

Whisper Tech

A new Microsoft patent aims to encourage people to use voice commands in public using whispered "silent" voice command technology.

/Microsoft