Microsoft President Brad Smith told ITV that AI systems face less regulatory scrutiny than milk or washing machines, urging governments to apply established safety practices and require companies to build emergency shutdown mechanisms into AI systems. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella followed with an X post arguing that major AI companies lack a 'mechanistic understanding' of their own tools and called for slower development, incident reporting and independent review.
cnet.com
· 2026-10-12
Microsoft President Brad Smith said on a BBC podcast that AI companies face less oversight than everyday products like milk or washing machines, and called for urgent global safety regulation. He argued the UK, through its AI Security Institute, is better positioned than the US or EU to lead that effort, even as the Trump administration has reportedly pressured Anthropic and OpenAI to limit British access to new models.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-12
Microsoft president Brad Smith told the BBC that artificial intelligence faces less regulatory oversight than milk cartons or washing machines, and called for urgent safety rules including legal accountability for victims of breaches by rogue AI agents. He also urged companies to build 'kill switches' capable of pausing or slowing AI systems that grow out of control. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella separately called for AI models to include an 'emergency brake' so their behaviour can be observed and contained.
theguardian.com
· 2026-10-12
Microsoft president Brad Smith told ITV that AI systems are subject to fewer safety rules than washing machines or milk cartons sold in stores. He made the remarks as major AI firms, including Anthropic, OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Meta and Nvidia, recently signed a self-regulation pact at a 'Super Intelligence' summit rather than accept government rules, an approach favored by President Trump.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-12
Microsoft president Brad Smith said AI products face fewer safety requirements than milk or washing machines, and called for global rules including mandatory incident reports for breaches, 'emergency brakes' to halt rogue systems, and independent government evaluators to vet AI before release. He suggested the UK's AI Security Institute could help lead such efforts, speaking on the BBC's Big Boss Interview podcast.
bbc.co.uk
· 2026-10-12
The University of Washington has moved its Global Innovation Exchange (GIX) institute, which offers a Master's in Technology Innovation, into a 48,500-square-foot space inside Microsoft's Building 92 under a rent-free lease. Microsoft contributed a $42 million in-kind donation to build out the space, marking the first time a UW program has established full-time operations on Microsoft's campus. GIX previously operated in Bellevue's Steve Ballmer Building after launching in 2015 with Tsinghua University and roughly $70 million in Microsoft backing.
news.slashdot.org
· 2026-10-02
We Make Indiana, a coalition of 25 nonprofits, faith groups and civic organizations near South Bend, sought funding from Microsoft under the company's publicized commitment to invest in local nonprofits near its AI data centers. According to Ars Technica's reporting, Microsoft's community liaison did not commit to providing the requested support, leaving the group without the promised backing.
futurism.com
· 2026-09-28
Microsoft has appointed Vice Chair and President Brad Smith to head its communications operations, succeeding longtime comms chief Frank Shaw, who is departing after more than 17 years at the company. Brent Colburn will serve as interim communications leader reporting to Smith during the transition, with Shaw staying on to advise both.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-24
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