Microsoft's president is calling for global AI safety rules, warning the tech is less regulated than milk

Microsoft president Brad Smith has stated that AI is currently less regulated than everyday items like milk and washing machines. Smith believes that global safety rules need to be established for AI, including a legal obligation to inform victims if their systems are breached by rogue AI agents, and deciding when outside evaluators should sign off on AI products before they are released.

This stance contrasts with President Donald Trump, who believes AI should self-regulate to prevent US firms from falling behind Chinese competitors. Smith argues that AI is both a "tool and a weapon" and that it urgently needs regulation. He proposes that firms should have 'emergency brakes' or 'kill switches' to pause or slow down AI if it gets out of control, and that firms should be legally required to report incidents and warn victims if the technology goes rogue.

Smith suggests that independent government evaluators should review new AI technology, drawing on existing practices for other products. He believes the UK, with its AI Security Institute, is best positioned to drive global AI regulations. Smith's views differ from Trump's, who believes the US should lead in AI development. Despite recent meetings with US tech CEOs, Smith believes the US government would be more receptive to UK-led AI regulations than the EU.

He emphasizes the urgent need for global AI regulation to address concerns about AI agents that can escape human control and powerful models that risk global cybersecurity.