AI is less regulated than a carton of milk – Microsoft president
AI is both a “tool and a weapon.”
Brad Smith. Image by Microsoft/Illustration by Cybernews
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- Microsoft president Brad Smith says AI needs stricter global safety rules now.
- Smith says common products face more safety checks than AI systems.
- Trump opposes AI guardrails and wants tech companies to police themselves.
- Smith wants breached organizations notified when AI agents are involved in attacks.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
Microsoft's vice chair and president, Brad Smith, says everyday items, such as a washing machine or a carton of milk, are better regulated than AI.
Speaking to the BBC, Smith described AI as both a “tool and a weapon” and urged the immediate imposition of stricter regulations on the technology.
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 inspectionBrad Smith, Microsoft's vice chair and president
Smith’s remarks come as executives of AI labs are calling for slowing down the technology’s progress, following a string of cyberattacks carried out by AI agents and employees’ warnings that the technology could eventually wipe out humanity.
US president Donald Trump, however, said the government won’t “stifle” AI development and won’t support imposing any guardrails.
Instead, he called for tech companies to self-police and renamed AI to “super intelligence” (SI), saying that the word “artificial” makes the technology sound fake.
Microsoft’s president emphasized the need for global safety rules, including a legal obligation to inform the entity that was breached by AI agents.
His comments may be a snub to OpenAI, which came under scrutiny after it was discovered that its bots had hacked into Australia’s national healthcare system.
The company informed Australian officials only a month after the discovery by sending an email that appears to be AI-generated.
Rift with Trump
Smith’s remarks, which come at odds with the government’s strategy, may represent a broader rift between Microsoft and the Trump administration.
The government announced on October 9th, 2026, that it was suspending Microsoft from the federal program that allows foreign workers to apply for green cards.
US Vice President JD Vance accused the company of laying off American employees and replacing them with foreign hires. Microsoft denied the allegations.
Hours later, Trump honored Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, along with leaders of other tech companies, for their contributions to the US.
