Microsoft President Calls for Global AI Safety Rules, Says Milk and Washing Machines Face Tighter Controls
AI is at break-neck speed becoming a free for all.
Microsoft President Brad Smith has called for urgent global regulations governing artificial intelligence, arguing that everyday products such as milk and washing machines are subject to stricter safety requirements than increasingly powerful AI systems.
Smith said governments should establish clear rules requiring technology companies to report serious AI-related incidents, notify people affected by rogue AI systems and introduce emergency mechanisms to halt technologies that behave unpredictably.
Speaking on the BBC’s Big Boss Interview, he described artificial intelligence as both a “tool and a weapon”, warning that its rapid development had made stronger safeguards necessary.
“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,” Smith said.
He argued that existing approaches to product safety could provide a useful starting point for developing a regulatory framework for AI.
He has therefore proposed as new measures mandatory incident reports, legal obligations to notify victims when AI agents cause harm or compromise systems, and independent evaluations of certain AI products before their release.
Smith also called for companies to establish emergency brakes, commonly known in the technology industry as “kill switches”, that could pause or slow down AI systems if they became uncontrollable or posed significant risks.
“We know how to do this for other products,” he said. “We should build on that knowledge and think about how to apply it to AI.”
His comments come amid growing concerns about the potential risks of advanced AI, including cybersecurity threats, unintended autonomous actions and the possibility that increasingly capable systems could operate beyond effective human oversight.
Smith’s position contrasts with that of US President Donald Trump, who has argued that excessive regulation could undermine American competitiveness against China in the race to develop advanced AI.
Trump has repeatedly maintained that the country that wins the AI race will secure a significant strategic advantage, signalling support for accelerating development rather than imposing restrictions that could slow American technology companies.
Smith, however, suggested that safety standards need not prevent innovation if governments and technology companies work together to establish proportionate safeguards.
He also expressed confidence that the United Kingdom could help lead international efforts to develop AI safety rules, citing the technical capabilities of its AI Security Institute, established under former prime minister Rishi Sunak’s government.
According to Smith, Britain has an opportunity to bring countries together around common standards because of its position in the technology sector and its ability to engage with the United States.
He suggested that Washington might be more receptive to British-led initiatives than to regulatory approaches associated with the European Union.
“When you look at AI agents that have escaped human control, when you look at models that are so powerful that they’re putting the world’s cybersecurity at risk. I would say: The moment has arrived,” Smith said.
He called for a measured but decisive international response, urging governments and technology companies to begin working towards common safeguards.
As AI becomes more deeply integrated into business, public services and critical digital infrastructure, the debate is shifting from whether the technology should be regulated to how governments can establish effective safety standards without unnecessarily restricting beneficial innovation.
