AI less regulated than milk, says Microsoft president in safety warning
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| Source: HN | Original article
Microsoft president warns that artificial intelligence is subject to fewer regulations than everyday items such as milk, underscoring growing safety concerns.
Microsoft president Brad Smith warned that artificial intelligence is subject to far fewer safety rules than everyday products such as milk or washing machines. Speaking at a recent industry forum, Smith said the gap leaves “critical blind spots” in the oversight of autonomous AI agents, cybersecurity risks and corporate accountability. He called for global, legally binding safety standards and the creation of independent evaluators empowered to vet new AI developments before they reach the market.
The comment arrives amid a wave of safety concerns across the sector. Regulators in the United States and Europe have been pressed to tighten rules after high‑profile incidents involving generative‑AI models, while companies such as OpenAI have faced internal disputes over risk management. Smith’s analogy underscores how quickly AI has outpaced existing consumer‑product legislation, highlighting the urgency for coordinated policy action.
What to watch next: policymakers in the EU and the United States are expected to introduce stricter AI governance frameworks later this year, and several nations have signaled interest in establishing “AI safety agencies” modeled on traditional product regulators. Industry observers will also be looking for whether Microsoft will back the proposed independent evaluator model with concrete initiatives or partnerships. The push for formal regulation could reshape how firms develop and deploy AI, potentially slowing innovation but aiming to prevent the kinds of harms Smith warned could arise from an under‑regulated landscape.
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