Microsoft president says AI faces fewer safety rules than milk in call for global regulation

Microsoft President Frames AI Safety Debate With Milk Comparison, Urges Global Regulation

FOX Business correspondent Darren Botelho reports on the calls for an “emergency brake” or “kill switch” on AI from tech leaders and lawmakers, with panelists weighing in on the pushes for AI safeguards.

During a BBC interview released Monday, Microsoft President Brad Smith underscored the need for a comprehensive global set of AI safety regulations. He argued that artificial intelligence currently enjoys lighter safety requirements than common household items.

Mr. Smith detailed critical features needed in regulation, specifically advocating for a victim notification protocol for systems compromised by rogue AI agents and the availability of an “emergency brake” for developers to halt non-compliant models.

He further suggested that legislative mandates should require companies to publish incident reports whenever AI fails, adding that success in other industries provides a template for effective AI governance.

“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,” Mr. Smith concluded.

According to a caption identifying Microsoft President Brad Smith speaking.

The tech executive’s statements coincide with recommendations from frontier AI developers. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic chief Dario Amodei have called for responsible pacing of advanced model development while maintaining strict oversight.

These leaders have also explored introducing third‑party evaluators—granted employee‑like access—to monitor model capabilities and report breaches transparently to the public.

In contrast, senior figures in the US government view London’s pursuit of AI rulemaking through the newly created British AI Security Institute far differently than the European Union’s top‑down regulatory framework, which classifies risks and corresponding controls.
British officials believe the London model offers a more agile path forward for establishing global standards.

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