Microsoft President: Milk Faces More Regulation Than AI

Artificial intelligence needs urgent global safety rules, including independent evaluations of new systems and requirements for companies to report incidents, Microsoft President Brad Smith said, warning that AI is subject to fewer safeguards than everyday consumer products.

In an interview with the BBC published on Monday, Smith called for global rules requiring companies to notify victims when rogue AI agents breach their systems and to provide an “emergency brake” to stop potentially harmful activity.

He also called for a legal requirement for companies to produce incident reports when AI systems malfunction or cause harm.

“We know how to do this ⁠for other products,” Smith said. “We should build on that knowledge and think about how to apply it to AI.”

“Right now, your washing machine is subject to more safety rules than AI. Every carton of milk that you see in the grocery store is subject to safety rules and inspection.”

The comments come as technology companies face growing scrutiny over increasingly capable AI systems and the risks posed by autonomous agents that can carry out tasks with limited human supervision.

Companies including Anthropic and OpenAI have begun disclosing cases of unwanted or rogue behaviour by AI agents, as researchers and policymakers debate how to manage the technology’s potential risks.

Some technology executives have called for slower AI development, but the proposals have prompted questions about whether additional restrictions could protect established companies from competition, head off tougher government intervention or curb the industry’s rapid spending on AI infrastructure.

Smith said Britain was well positioned to lead international efforts to regulate AI, citing the AI Security Institute established under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The institute has secured access to advanced AI models before their public release through voluntary agreements with major developers, allowing it to assess their capabilities and potential risks.

Smith said officials in Washington viewed London differently from Brussels, where the European Union has introduced a risk-based regulatory framework through its AI Act.

Britain’s approach has relied more heavily on voluntary cooperation with AI developers, although the government has signalled it could introduce stricter rules if existing safeguards prove inadequate.

AI Minister Kanishka Narayan told Reuters that Britain would consider regulating advanced models if the current system proved insufficient.

The debate over AI regulation has intensified as governments seek to balance safety, innovation and competition while companies develop systems capable of operating with increasing autonomy.

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