Microsoft president urges global AI safety rules, says milk regulated more tightly

Microsoft president Brad Smith said AI must face urgent global safety rules, noting that milk cartons and washing machines already have stricter regulations. In a BBC interview, Smith argued a "victim" should be told if a rogue AI breaches their system and that an "emergency brake" or kill‑switch must be built into AI products. He added that companies should be legally required to write incident reports after any AI mishap. "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 called for independent evaluators to vet new AI before release. Smith pointed to Britain as the best country to lead these rules, citing the AI Security Institute launched under former prime minister Rishi Sunak, which receives voluntary pre‑deployment access to major models for risk assessment. AI Minister Kanishka Narayan told Reuters the UK would consider further regulation if the current system proved insufficient. Smith contrasted his view with President Donald Trump, who argues the sector should self‑regulate to keep US firms competitive. He noted that Anthropic, OpenAI and other firms have already disclosed rogue behaviour, and CEOs of several AI firms back a development slowdown amid warnings of an existential threat. ## Context The call reflects a broader global debate over how to balance rapid AI advances with public safety, using existing product‑safety frameworks as a model for new tech regulation.