The BaseNewsBBC News

AI is less regulated than milk, says Microsoft president

The BBC reports that Microsoft president Brad Smith, on its Big Boss Interview podcast, says AI faces fewer safety rules than milk or washing machines. Smith calls for global rules, including emergency brakes, mandatory incident reports, telling victims, and independent evaluators; says the UK is best placed to lead; and calls a White House industry pledge necessary but insufficient.

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Why it matters

The same thing, for different readers.

What it means for you

Microsoft's president says milk and washing machines face more safety checks than AI, and wants companies legally obliged to tell people harmed by rogue AI.

For lawmakers

Smith backs legal incident reporting, victim notification, outside evaluation before release and global rules, and suggests the UK, through its AI Security Institute, should lead.

For researchers

Outside evaluators signing off before release would need agreed tests; Smith points to the UK AI Security Institute's technical capability as a base for them.

The question it raises

Smith argues voluntary pledges only bind responsible firms, which raises whether public safety can rest on companies' goodwill.

In their own words

Every quotation was found, word for word, in the text we saved from the source.

From the source’s own text.

“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 inspection.”
Brad Smith, President, MicrosoftSmith on the BBC's Big Boss Interview podcast, arguing that AI needs safety rules like other consumer products.
Matches the source exactly
“When you look at AI agents that have escaped human control, when you look at models that are so powerful that they're putting the world's cybersecurity at risk. I would say: The moment has arrived.”
Brad Smith, President, MicrosoftSmith on why, in Smith's view, the time has come to act on AI rules and bring people together.
Matches the source exactly
“It's a good step, it's a necessary step... But I don't think it's sufficient any longer.”
Brad Smith, President, MicrosoftOn the 'morally binding' document tech leaders signed at the White House, which Smith says Microsoft applauds and is happy to sign.
Matches the source exactly
“It's the companies that are not as responsible that you need to worry about.”
Brad Smith, President, MicrosoftSmith on the limits of any self-regulatory regime: the good companies will do what is asked.
Matches the source exactly

The record

Questions
Who can demand evidence, delay a release or stop an unsafe deployment? · Are AI companies putting stronger safeguards into practice? · Can AI systems act beyond what people intended or allowed?
People
Brad Smith (Speaks, President, Microsoft) · Mitchell Labiak (Wrote it, Business reporter, BBC) · Donald Trump (Mentioned, US President)
Also covered by
The Guardian
What we read
We read the whole source.
Found by
The Radar, run of October 12, 2026, via bbc-technology (tier 2: a major outlet’s own reporting)
Cite this
BBC News, “AI is less regulated than milk, says Microsoft president”, October 12, 2026. Entry in the Ctrl AI Base, https://ctrlai.com/base/bbc-2026-10-12-ai-less-regulated-than-milk
Our notesQuotes come from the BBC article, not from the podcast audio (Big Boss Interview on BBC Sounds, not checked). The 'It's a good step' quote has '...' in the BBC text itself. The BBC's own claims that Anthropic, OpenAI and Google DeepMind bosses 'have all backed the idea of an AI development slowdown' and that experts believe AI is a threat to humanity are the BBC's prose and are not repeated in our text. Page shows 'Published 12 October 2026, 00:07 BST'. The 'loss-of-control: agree' label rests on Smith speaking of 'AI agents that have escaped human control' as something already seen; a person should confirm.