Internal records reveal pressure on employees and consumers to embrace AI tools amid ethical concerns
Seattle, October 28, 2025:
Technology giant Microsoft is facing mounting criticism after reports surfaced alleging that the company deployed “dark patterns” — manipulative design and policy tactics — to accelerate the adoption of its artificial intelligence (AI) products both inside and outside the organisation.
According to internal documents and reports from Business Insider, Microsoft’s senior management has directed employees to integrate AI tools like GitHub Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot into their daily workflow, stating that “using AI is no longer optional.” Managers have reportedly been instructed to factor AI tool usage into performance reviews, effectively making AI adoption a key metric for employee evaluation.
Industry analysts view this as a coercive step. By making AI integration mandatory rather than voluntary, Microsoft risks alienating employees and setting a precedent for enforced digital compliance in the corporate world.
“AI can empower productivity, but forcing it without sufficient training or consent can create a culture of fear and artificial performance,” said an HR expert quoted by UNLEASH.ai.
Externally, consumer rights groups have also accused Microsoft of using dark patterns to push its AI tools to customers. In South Africa, Microsoft was called out for bundling Copilot with Microsoft 365 subscriptions while concealing the option to retain older, cheaper “Classic” plans. This raised transparency concerns and prompted regulatory attention from local competition authorities.
Experts suggest that while Microsoft’s goal of transforming into an “AI-first company” aligns with its long-term innovation strategy, the methods of implementation raise serious questions about user choice, digital ethics, and responsible AI deployment.
The controversy has reignited the global debate around corporate responsibility in AI integration — whether businesses should encourage or enforce adoption, and how far they can go before crossing ethical lines.