Microsoft’s Brad Smith says AI is less regulated than milk and urges UK to lead global rules

In a comment that could have been made by a dairy inspector, Microsoft president Brad Smith said artificial intelligence is less regulated than milk.

He added that even washing machines enjoy a more robust legal framework than the software that is learning to drive itself.

Smith called for global AI rules, including mandatory “kill switches” and a legal duty to compensate victims of rogue AI agents.

He singled out the United Kingdom as being in the best position to lead the creation of such standards, suggesting it could become a sort of “AI‑law‑factory”.

The remarks have already sparked jokes about “pasteurised code” and the idea of a mandatory “milk‑carton” warning for AI models.

Investors and lawyers are watching the UK’s regulatory moves, but for now the only certainty is that AI remains far less regulated than dairy.