Microsoft President Says UK Best Positioned to Lead AI Regulation
microsoft regulation
| Source: TechCrunch | Original article
Microsoft president Brad Smith says the UK is best positioned to lead AI regulation, urging urgent rules as AI firms face less oversight than everyday products.
Microsoft President Brad Smith has urged governments to move quickly toward legally binding AI safety rules, arguing that the technology enjoys far less oversight than everyday consumer goods such as milk or washing machines. Speaking on a BBC podcast, Smith described AI as both a “weapon and a tool” and warned that voluntary industry pacts are insufficient to curb the emerging risks.
Smith singled out the United Kingdom as the most suitable nation to spearhead global AI regulation, citing the AI Security Institute created under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s administration. He called for mandatory breach reporting, independent pre‑launch evaluations and the ability to shut down AI systems in emergencies.
The call comes amid growing pressure on policymakers to close the governance gap surrounding powerful generative models and other advanced systems. As we reported on 12 October, Smith previously highlighted that AI is less regulated than milk, underscoring the urgency of formal oversight. The latest remarks reinforce Microsoft’s broader push for a coordinated regulatory framework that can keep pace with rapid innovation while protecting cybersecurity and public safety.
What to watch next: UK officials are likely to outline concrete steps for the AI Security Institute and may propose legislation that could become a template for other jurisdictions. At the same time, international bodies and industry groups will be monitoring the UK’s approach, testing whether it can catalyse the “global rules” Smith envisions. The coming weeks should reveal whether the UK will translate its perceived advantage into actionable policy that shapes the future of AI governance worldwide.
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