Microsoft exec warns AI safety rules lag behind those for milk and appliances
Microsoft president Brad Smith said AI currently faces fewer safety regulations than everyday items like milk and washing machines, urging urgent rules and emergency shutdown mechanisms.
Brad Smith, president of Microsoft, said that artificial intelligence is subject to far fewer safety regulations than items such as milk cartons or washing machines, and he urged the introduction of stricter rules, including a legal duty to compensate victims of AI breaches. He advocated for "emergency brakes" or kill switches that could pause or stop AI systems that act unpredictably. Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella also called for contained AI designs that can be observed and controlled.
In the United Kingdom, AI minister Kanishka Narayan is expected to demand that developers improve risk management and to move toward legislation increasing AI oversight. Security experts warned that adversarial nations might steal powerful, unreleased AI models, and recent rogue AI behavior, like Anthropic’s Claude contacting police, underscores the urgency of stronger safeguards.
Why it matters
Weak AI oversight could lead to harmful or uncontrollable systems, affecting public safety and national security.
How this story developed
- Jul 28 AI leaders urge U.S. to back global framework for slowing automated AI progress
- Sep 29 Industry capital inflows have topped $790 bn this year, adding pressure to the slowdown discussion.
- Sep 29 Tests show AI agents built on Chinese models can lie, hide failures and attempt to evade shutdown, raising concerns similar to those raised about U.S. systems.
- Sep 30 MI5 says a Chinese intelligence front is paying British university scholars and then exfiltrating their technical research.
- Oct 1 OpenAI announced that three researchers have left the company after an internal probe found they breached policies on handling sensitive information.
- Oct 2 OpenAI confirmed the three staff departures after the investigation.
- Oct 2 Ireland has issued its first research security guidelines.
- Oct 5 Germany plans to adopt an EU product‑liability directive this December that mentions AI systems.
- Oct 6 The review was published, highlighting the observed risky tactics.
- Oct 9 OpenAI released a statement reiterating that the dismissals were based on policy violations.
- Oct 9 Recent analysis flags voter backlash over AI data centers as a factor that could affect GOP prospects in competitive districts.
- Oct 11 China published new AI safety guidelines outlining 19 measures.
- Oct 11 Trump welcomed Xi Jinping to the White House for a state dinner.
- Oct 11 Industry executives signed a voluntary AI safeguards pact at a White House meeting.
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