AI is less regulated than milk, says Microsoft president
Brad Smith calls for global rules on AI, and says the UK is in the "best position" to lead the charge.
By BBC News
Microsoft president Brad Smith has called for global safety rules for artificial intelligence, saying the technology is currently less regulated than milk and washing machines.
Speaking to Will Bain on the BBC’s Big Boss Interview, Smith said AI needed stronger safeguards as its development was moving faster than the rules governing it.
He said companies should face a legal requirement to inform people if their systems were breached by a rogue AI agent. He also raised the possibility of government or independent evaluators having to approve advanced AI models before they are released.
“Right now, your washing machine is subject to more safety rules than AI,” Smith said. He added that cartons of milk were subject to safety rules and inspection.
Smith described AI as both a “tool and a weapon” and said industry self-regulation was no longer enough. He called for international cooperation on standards covering the testing and release of advanced systems.
The Microsoft president said the UK was in the best position to lead work on global AI rules. He pointed to the country’s AI Security Institute, which was launched as the AI Safety Institute under former prime minister Rishi Sunak.
Smith said the institute had strong technical capability for testing AI models and described the UK as a potential bridge between the United States and Europe.
He also addressed concerns about the willingness of technology companies to submit their systems for testing. The interview included discussion of Anthropic declining UK testing of one of its models.
Smith said the central question was when developers should be required to prove to a government regulator that an AI product was safe before launch.