RSS: Microsoft on the issues

Artificial intelligence is accelerating discovery across the life sciences. From drug development to materials science, AI is helping researchers move faster and solve problems once thought intractable. This convergence of AI and biology holds extraordinary promise for human health, economic growth, and scientific leadership. At the same time, advances in AI technologies are introducing new risks, like re-engineered toxins and pathogens. As... The post Strengthening biosecurity in the era of AI appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

More than 30 percent of the US working-age population is using AI, an increase of three percentage points from the end of 2025. But what does that number mean, and what lessons should we take from it? Today Microsoft released a new report that offers an in-depth look at AI adoption across the United States,... The post United States AI adoption shows steady growth, but distribution remains uneven appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

When intimate images are shared without consent—whether real or AI-generated—the harm is immediate, deeply personal, and often long-lasting. It can affect someone’s sense of safety, dignity, and control, both online and offline. Protecting people from harms like non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII) has long been a priority for Microsoft. And as technology advances, our response continues... The post Strengthening our approach to tackling non-consensual intimate imagery appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

Every day, we decide what software to trust in seconds guided by simple labels such as “verified,” “secure,” and “safe to install.” The problem is that those signs can be manipulated. Today, Microsoft unsealed a legal case in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York targeting a cybercrime service known as Fox Tempest,... The post Disrupting Fox Tempest: A cybercrime service that turned “verified” software into a pathway for ransomware  appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

Today we published our latest Global AI Diffusion Report. The global adoption of artificial intelligence continued to rise in the first quarter of 2026. During the quarter, AI usage increased by 1.5 percentage points from 16.3% to 17.8% of the world’s working age population. Intensity of use among economies with the highest rates of AI... The post The state of global AI diffusion in 2026 appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

Today, Microsoft is announcing new agreements with the Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI) in the US and the AI Security Institute (AISI) in the UK to advance the science of AI testing and evaluation, including through collaborative work to test Microsoft’s frontier models, assess safeguards, and help mitigate national security and large-scale public safety risks. These agreements matter because ongoing, rigorous testing is essential to building... The post Advancing AI evaluation with the Center for AI Standards (US) and Innovation and the AI Security Institute (UK) appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

When a major cyber incident hits, the first decisions aren’t technical—they’re human. Who takes the lead? How quickly can information be shared? When should governments step in, and how do you protect public trust while keeping essential services running?  These questions are at the heart of Microsoft’s Advancing Regional Cybersecurity (ARC) initiative, launched in 2025 to help governments strengthen cyber preparedness through... The post Strengthening cyber capacity in Kenya: A new toolkit with lessons for the region appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

Cybersecurity is at a turning point. Advanced AI models are dramatically accelerating vulnerability discovery and creating conditions ripe for exploitation, underscored by the announcement of Claude Mythos Preview. This marks a shift, and whether this technology will favor defenders or attackers will depend on the choices we make now.  With the right safeguards, these capabilities can help trusted defenders identify and fix vulnerabilities across critical systems in hospitals, power grids, water, and telecommunications. Released irresponsibly or not properly secured, however, those same capabilities could be abused by malicious... The post From capability to responsibility: Securing our global digital ecosystem with next‑generation AI appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

Europe is moving fast to capture the benefits of artificial intelligence, recognizing its potential to raise productivity, strengthen competitiveness, and help modernize public services. At the same time, organizations across Europe are focused on digital sovereignty and resilience: retaining control over their data and critical operations in a period of geopolitical volatility. These priorities go... The post One year on: Progress on our European digital commitments  appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

We are living through a moment that will be defined not only by advanced technology and AI, but by the real-world infrastructure that makes it possible. And that infrastructure will be built the way critical infrastructure has always been built—by electricians, ironworkers, pipefitters, operating engineers, laborers, and the many other skilled professionals who turn plans... The post Putting AI to work with the building trades appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.