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Microsoft President Calls for Urgent AI Regulation

Brad Smith says AI faces fewer safety rules than milk and washing machines.

AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised · How this was made

Published
FILE PHOTO: Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith addresses a keynote in Brussels, Belgium April 30, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo

What this story says

  • Microsoft President Brad Smith stated that artificial intelligence is subject to fewer safety regulations than milk and washing machines.
  • Smith called for urgent global regulation of AI, including independent evaluators and mandatory incident reports.
  • He suggested that Britain is well-placed to lead on AI regulation due to its AI Security Institute.
  • Some companies have called for a slowdown in AI development, sparking debate about potential ulterior motives.

Who covered it

Left 25%(11)Centre 29%(13)Right 46%(20)

Percentages are shares of the 44 outlets carrying a published leaning rating. 58 of the 102 outlets we know ran this story carry no rating and are not counted in them. Coverage measured .

Trust

42/100

Craft

61/100

Hype

41/100

102 sources · methodology

Microsoft President Brad Smith has called for urgent global regulation of artificial intelligence, stating that AI currently faces fewer safety requirements than everyday products like milk and washing machines. In an interview with the BBC, Smith advocated for global safety rules that would include mandatory incident reports and independent evaluators to vet new AI developments. He suggested that Britain is well-placed to lead on AI regulation due to its AI Security Institute.

Smith's comments come amid a broader debate about the rapid advancement of AI. Some companies have called for a slowdown in AI development, a stance that has sparked discussion about potential ulterior motives, such as preserving a company's lead or pre-empting government backlash. Smith indicated that voluntary industry self-regulation is no longer sufficient.

Disagreement on regulation approach

While Brad Smith called for urgent global regulation, some reports noted differing approaches. Channel News Asia reported that Washington views London's approach differently to Brussels, which regulates AI based on risk level via its AI Act. Bizpac Review and The Daily Caller mentioned that Microsoft's executive was breaking with President Donald Trump on how to keep AI in check, with Trump's recent proposal only scratching the surface. Delo.si noted that Trump opposes efforts to slow AI development.

What the coverage left out

None of the left-rated reports below mention the specific role of the AI Security Institute in Britain, which was highlighted by Channel News Asia. None of the right-rated reports below mention the specific role of the AI Security Institute in Britain, which was highlighted by Channel News Asia.

Still developing. We have re-checked which outlets are covering this 3 times, most recently on 12 Oct 2026, 21:30, and will add the sides that appear.

How each side covered it

Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.

Left

11 rated outlets

  • Left-rated reports led with Microsoft President Brad Smith's statement that AI is less regulated than milk and washing machines. These reports highlighted his call for urgent global regulation, including mandatory incident reports and independent evaluators. Several outlets, such as Spiegel and Gizmodo, used headlines directly quoting Smith's comparison of AI safety rules to those for household appliances. Telegrafi and The American Bazaar specifically mentioned the need for "emergency shutdown mechanisms" and mandatory incident reports. Delo.si and Dnevni list Danas noted Smith's stance in contrast to that of Donald Trump.

Centre

13 rated outlets

  • Centre-rated reports focused on Brad Smith's call for urgent AI regulation and his comparison of AI safety rules to those for milk and washing machines. Channel News Asia and Jornal Expresso noted Smith's description of AI as a tool and weapon needing regulation that preserves human control. TechCrunch and The Hill highlighted Smith's view that the UK is well-placed to lead AI regulation. Quartz and The Hill mentioned Smith's specific proposals, including "emergency brakes" and mandatory incident reports. El Diario stated that AI needs urgent global regulation with independent evaluators.

Right

20 rated outlets

  • Right-rated reports also led with Microsoft President Brad Smith's comparison of AI regulation to that of milk and washing machines. Headlines in Le Figaro and Expressen directly referenced this comparison. Bizpac Review and The Daily Caller noted that Smith's comments contrasted with President Donald Trump's approach to AI regulation, with Bizpac Review and The Daily Caller stating that Trump's recent proposal "only scratched the surface." Latestly mentioned Smith's call for legally binding AI safety rules and identified the UK as well-placed to lead global regulation. Globo reported that AI faces fewer safety rules than milk and needs urgent regulation.

Questions about this coverage

How did the left and right cover Microsoft President Calls for Urgent AI Regulation?
Of the 44 outlets on this story carrying a published leaning rating, 25% are rated left, 29% are rated centre, 46% are rated right. Those percentages are shares of the rated outlets, not of every outlet that ran it, which was 102. The sections above set out what each side emphasised, in its own terms.
Is Microsoft President Calls for Urgent AI Regulation left or right?
Neither side dominates it. Of the 44 rated outlets on this story, 25% are rated left, 29% are rated centre, 46% are rated right, and no side holds the 70% this site would want before calling a field one-sided. A story is not left or right in any case; the outlets that carried it are what carry ratings.
Is the coverage of Microsoft President Calls for Urgent AI Regulation biased?
Microsoft President Calls for Urgent AI Regulation is one event reported by 102 outlets, and this page does not rate the story as biased or unbiased. What it publishes is the spread: which outlets ran it, where named rating organisations place each of them on the spectrum, and what each side chose to lead with. A leaning rating describes an outlet's record over time, not this article, and the two should not be run together.
Which outlets covered Microsoft President Calls for Urgent AI Regulation?
102 that we know of, every one of them listed further up this page with a link to its own report and to what we hold on the publisher. Nothing here is a summary of somebody else's summary: the outlets are named so the original reporting can be read.
What did Microsoft President Brad Smith say about AI regulation?
Brad Smith stated that artificial intelligence currently faces fewer safety requirements than everyday products like milk and washing machines. He called for urgent global regulation, including mandatory incident reports and independent evaluators to vet new AI developments.
What specific regulations did Brad Smith propose for AI?
Smith advocated for global safety rules that would include mandatory incident reports for companies and independent evaluators to vet new AI developments. He also suggested the need for "emergency brakes" and a legal requirement to inform victims if their systems are breached by rogue AI agents.
Which country did Brad Smith suggest could lead on AI regulation?
Brad Smith suggested that Britain is well-placed to lead on AI regulation, citing its AI Security Institute. He noted that officials in Washington view London's approach differently to Brussels, which regulates AI based on risk level via its AI Act.

Read it at the source

102 outlets, grouped by the leaning a published rating gives them. Every headline links to the original; an underlined outlet name opens our profile of that publisher.

Left

11
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Centre

13
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Right

20
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Not rated

58
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Brad Smith on AI regulation | MediaBias News