Microsoft President: Britain Should Write World's AI Rules

Will Bain (0:12)

Hello, and welcome to the Big Boss Interview podcast from the BBC, where we talk to those business leaders shaping the way we live and work. And we haven't done many bigger, I guess, than our guests today in the past 60 or so episodes of Big Boss Interview podcast. Today, we're speaking to the president of Microsoft, Brad Smith. And as a result, as you can imagine, lots in there about AI, the way it's shaping, how we work, what it's doing to jobs, but of course, critically, given everything that's been talked about through the summer, including by former staffers at companies like OpenAI and Anthropic Safety. And Brad Smith, really interesting on that, about how he thinks the UK could lead the world in terms of setting and regulating some of those safety standards, but also about his own fears and concerns about the pace at which regulators are rushing, in his mind, not quickly enough, to catch up with what's going on in AI. We talk data centers as well, obviously, a big political football, particularly back home for Brad Smith in the United States. And, well, you might remember this in a conversation in 2023 with Sean around regulation here in the UK.

Brad Smith (1:19)

Unfortunately, I think it's bad for Britain. The business community, the investment community and the technology sector around the world have been following this case. And the strong message the CMA has sent is not just to surprise everyone who fully expected this acquisition to be approved, but to send a message that I think will discourage innovation and investment in the United Kingdom.

Will Bain (1:44)

If you don't remember that, of course, that was an enormous row when Microsoft were trying to buy the video games maker Activision Blizzard. And he thought it was really hampering UK investment, how kind of involved regulators here we're getting. So it will be interesting to see where he thinks we are now, given there's been a lot of work around regulation to try and boost growth across the UK. So absolutely loads for us to get to. So this is it, my conversation with Brad Smith, the president of Microsoft.

Brad Smith, thanks so much for being with us on the Big Boss Interview podcast.

Brad Smith (2:14)

Thank you for having me.

Will Bain (2:15)

Can I start by quoting you in a blog on Microsoft's website from a few years back? You're talking about AI safety here, an issue I know that you think is important. It's not enough to focus only on the many opportunities to use AI to improve people's lives.

This is perhaps one of the most important lessons from the role of social media. We've had a bit of a pickle trying to put regulations back on social media after the event, haven't we? So what lessons are you hoping we've learned, that we are learning perhaps at the moment?

Brad Smith (2:45)

I think there's perhaps two lessons that are most important. The first is to recognize that any technology is both a tool and a weapon, and we need to look at the downside as well as the upside and manage it. The second is don't wait until it's too late.

Don't wait until it's impacted in an entire generation of people, and recognize that you need to put a lot of different things together to manage that downside well, including laws and regulation. And I think that's exactly where we are right now when we think about the safety of AI.

Will Bain (3:19)

I was going to ask you exactly that. You don't think we're past some of that point because I think some people are worried that we are, that it's hurtling too quickly and already it might be difficult to catch up with. I'm thinking of people, Helen Toner, who we've had on the program before, runs an AI Safety Institute at Georgetown now, was on the board at OpenAI, a company you invest in. People like that who are sounding the siren here a little bit.

Brad Smith (3:41)

I think there's a lot of times in life when you look at a problem and you wish you could have started earlier.

I often joke inside Microsoft. I come in and I look around and say, did any of our engineers build a time machine last night? No? Okay, well, then let's get started today. And I think that's the way we should look at AI safety. Let's get started today and really start to do more.

Will Bain (4:02)

Shape it then. Keep it simple for people. But what? You picked the number of bullet points, but what should be the areas of focus?