Microsoft’s Brad Smith Calls for Urgent Global AI Regulation
Microsoft President, Brad Smith, has made a compelling call for the global regulation of artificial intelligence (AI). He highlighted the stark reality that AI currently faces less safety requirements than a carton of milk or a household washing machine.
In a recent interview with the BBC, Smith portrayed AI as both a “tool and a weapon”. He emphasized the urgent need for governments to intervene. Smith proposed an all-encompassing framework of international AI safety rules, which includes:
- A legal obligation to notify victims if their system is breached by a rogue AI agent.
- Independent evaluators to test and approve AI products before they are released to the public.
- Mandatory incident reports from companies.
- An “emergency brake” mechanism to halt uncontrolled AI agents.
Smith endorsed the UK’s AI Security Institute (AISI), which was established in 2023, as the leading body to spearhead global AI regulation efforts. He argued that the UK’s neutral diplomatic standing gives it an edge over the US and EU. His comments have been made amidst a broader AI safety debate, with the CEOs of Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google DeepMind all supporting the idea of an AI industry slowdown.
Contrarily, Smith’s views are in conflict with US President Donald Trump, who advocates for industry self-regulation to maintain the competitiveness of American AI firms with China.
📌 Source: TechCrunch – Microsoft President Says UK Is Best Placed to Drive AI Regulation