Science & Tech · AI · 3 hrs ago
Microsoft’s Brad Smith says UK should lead global AI safety rules
Microsoft President Brad Smith is urging governments to set binding safety rules for artificial intelligence.
He says the UK is better placed than the United States or European Union to lead global efforts.
Britain’s AI Security Institute, launched in 2023, tests advanced AI models before they are released.
Smith says voluntary promises by technology companies are not enough because less responsible companies may ignore them.
He supports measures such as outside safety checks before release, reporting breaches involving rogue AI agents, and systems that can be paused if people lose control.
The issue matters because AI could create cybersecurity risks, and concerns have grown after incidents involving AI agents.
Smith wants the UK and other countries to work together on rules, but no specific next steps are stated.
Microsoft President Brad Smith says the UK is best placed to lead global AI safety rules.
He argues that AI needs urgent regulation because it poses risks to global cybersecurity.
Smith says voluntary industry commitments do not go far enough to ensure responsible AI development.
The UK’s AI Security Institute has access to major models from US frontier labs for safety testing.
Smith supports measures including outside evaluation before release and ways to pause AI systems if humans lose control.
- Who
- Microsoft President Brad Smith is calling for global AI safety rules.
- What
- He says the UK is best placed to lead on regulation and argues that voluntary commitments are insufficient.
- When
- He made the comments on a recent BBC podcast. The article was published on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- The comments were made on a BBC podcast; Smith discussed the UK’s potential role in global AI regulation.
- Why
- Smith says AI poses risks, including to global cybersecurity, and that stronger rules are needed beyond voluntary self-regulation.
Brad Smith and advocates of stronger AI rules
Donald Trump and critics of globalist organizations
Who should lead AI safety rules
Brad Smith and advocates of stronger AI rules
Smith says the UK is best placed to lead, rather than the US or the European Union.
Donald Trump and critics of globalist organizations
Trump has warned against “globalist” organizations, which he says interfere with American companies.
How AI companies should be held accountable
Brad Smith and advocates of stronger AI rules
Smith says voluntary self-regulation is inadequate and supports legally required safeguards and outside evaluation.
Donald Trump and critics of globalist organizations
At a White House meeting, tech leaders agreed to work with independent auditors, but the article does not state Trump’s position on Smith’s proposed rules.
the “moment has arrived” to institute global safety rules
In Washington, D.C., people don’t look at the U.K. and they don’t look at London the way they look at Brussels
It’s the companies that are not as responsible that you need to worry about
Let’s speak calmly, maybe even softly, but firmly, and start to bring people together
Britain’s AI Security Institute was launched.
Trump hosted tech leaders at the White House to discuss AI safety, and they agreed to work with independent auditors.
Trump reportedly asked Anthropic and OpenAI to withhold new models from British testers.
The AI Security Institute confirmed it could access and test the latest models.
Smith called for global AI safety rules and said the UK was best placed to lead.
- Speaker
- Brad Smith, Microsoft president
- AI Security Institute launched
- 2023
- UK AI safety body
- Britain’s AI Security Institute
- White House agreement
- Tech leaders agreed to work with independent auditors
- Proposed safeguards
- Legal breach alerts, outside evaluation and kill-switches for AI systems
Sources
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