The Council of Europe and Microsoft have signed a cooperation agreement to advance responsible AI development while protecting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Signed in Strasbourg by Secretary General Alain Berset and Microsoft President Brad Smith, the agreement provides a framework for potential joint initiatives but does not commit either party to specific products or applications.
Planned areas of cooperation include sharing expertise, promoting inclusive technological innovation, and protecting linguistic and cultural diversity, including minority languages. The agreement builds on existing collaboration, including AI-powered damage assessments in Ukraine and initiatives to combat cybercrime and strengthen data protection.