Microsoft President Brad Smith has called for urgent global regulation of artificial intelligence, arguing that the United Kingdom is best positioned to lead efforts to establish safety standards as increasingly powerful AI systems introduce new cybersecurity risks.
Smith said AI companies should face mandatory safety requirements, including independent evaluations of advanced models, incident reporting and legal obligations to notify organisations affected by rogue AI agents. He also backed the development of emergency mechanisms to pause or slow AI systems when humans lose control of their actions.
In an interview with the BBC published on Monday, Smith argued that everyday consumer products face stricter safety oversight than AI technology. He said the industry needed a common set of rules to address risks that voluntary commitments alone might not adequately control.
Smith said the UK had an advantage over the United States and the European Union because its approach could bring government and technology companies together without provoking the same political resistance associated with regulation in Brussels.
He pointed to the UK’s AI Security Institute, established in 2023, which evaluates advanced AI models and has secured access to systems developed by major technology companies before their public release. The institute’s testing capabilities have helped position Britain as a potential centre for international AI safety assessments.
Smith’s comments come amid growing concern over the risks posed by autonomous AI agents capable of carrying out complex tasks with limited human supervision. Technology companies, including OpenAI and Anthropic, have disclosed incidents involving unwanted or unexpected AI behaviour, intensifying calls for stronger safeguards.
US President Donald Trump has favoured an approach that relies heavily on voluntary industry commitments, arguing that excessive regulation could weaken American competitiveness against China. Last month, technology executives, including representatives from OpenAI, Anthropic, Nvidia, AMD, SpaceX, Meta and Google, agreed to work with independent auditors to assess the safety and capabilities of their AI models.
Smith described that agreement as a positive step but said voluntary measures were insufficient because companies that disregard safety commitments might not face meaningful consequences. He argued that legally enforceable requirements were needed to ensure consistent standards across the industry.
The UK’s position as a potential leader in AI governance has also faced political uncertainty. Trump has criticised international organisations he considers obstacles to American companies, while reports last month suggested he had asked OpenAI and Anthropic to withhold new models from British safety testers. The UK institute confirmed on Monday that it could access and test the latest models.
British AI Minister Kanishka Narayan has said the government would consider introducing formal regulation of advanced AI models if existing arrangements proved inadequate. The current system relies substantially on voluntary agreements between the government and leading developers.
Smith said the priority should be to bring governments and technology companies together around practical safeguards rather than allow disagreements over regulation to delay action. His proposals would require AI developers to accept greater accountability as the technology becomes more capable and widely deployed.
The debate reflects a growing divide over how to manage AI risks while preserving innovation, with policymakers weighing enforceable safety rules against concerns that regulation could slow investment and development.
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Emmanuel Abara Benson is a business journalist and editor covering artificial intelligence, global markets, and emerging technology.
He has previously worked with Business Insider Africa and Nairametrics, reporting on finance, startups, and innovation.
His work focuses on AI, digital economy, and global tech trends.
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