Date: October 12, 2026 Main source: The Guardian Link: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/12/ai-less-regulated-than-milk-microsoft-president-calls-for-tougher-rules
Summary
Brad Smith, president of Microsoft, called for stronger regulation of advanced artificial intelligence systems. In remarks reported by The Guardian, he proposed mechanisms to stop dangerous behavior and greater accountability for harm. The debate comes as agents gain the ability to act on external systems. His proposals are public positions and are not equivalent to rules already approved.
Why it matters
Commercial trust in autonomous agents will depend as much on their usefulness as on the ability to limit actions, audit decisions and respond to incidents.
Practical implications
- Build in explicit authorizations for irreversible or sensitive actions.
- Document permissions, activity logs and interruption procedures.
Focus of the day: Measure the real value of agents and design controls before expanding their autonomy.