Microsoft President: Milk and washing machines are subject to more safety rules than artificial intelligence

Brad Smith, President of Microsoft, called for stricter global regulations for artificial intelligence, including subjecting new systems to independent assessments and requiring companies to report incidents. He warned that everyday consumer products are subject to clearer safety requirements than those imposed on artificial intelligence.

Brad Smith, President of Microsoft, called for stricter global regulations for artificial intelligence in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) published on Monday, October 12. Smith emphasized the need for independent bodies to assess new technologies and their risks before they are made available to users, along with imposing legal obligations on companies to prepare incident reports and notify affected parties when an AI agent causes a breach of their systems. Smith compared the controls imposed on traditional products to those governing AI systems, noting that washing machines and milk cartons are subject to regular safety and inspection rules, while oversight of intelligent systems remains less stringent. He explained that the accumulated expertise in regulating consumer product safety can be leveraged to develop similar rules for artificial intelligence.