AI is less regulated than milk, Microsoft president says
Microsoft president Brad Smith argues that AI currently lacks sufficient safety regulations compared to everyday consumer goods like milk or washing machines. He advocates for mandatory incident reporting, kill switches, and independent government oversight to mitigate risks posed by rogue AI.
Why it matters
As AI development accelerates, the debate over whether to prioritize self-regulation or government-mandated safety standards is becoming a central issue for global policy and corporate accountability.
Figure caption, Microsoft boss: 'If a company builds AI agents and they break loose, there should be a legal obligation to tell the victim'
Milk and washing machines are currently more regulated than AI, the president of Microsoft has said.
Brad Smith said there needed to be global safety rules in place, including a legal obligation to tell a "victim" if their system is breached by a rogue AI agent as well as deciding when outside evaluators should sign off on an AI product before it is released.
His comments put him at odds with President Donald Trump, who said the sector should regulate itself so US firms don't lose out to Chinese rivals.
But Smith said: "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."
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