Microsoft President Smith lays out plan to govern AI amid calls for caution
Jean-Luc Ichard/iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) President Brad Smith said on Thursday that the world's governments should hold those in possession of artificial intelligence technology accountable, while adding several principles that lawmakers should base future regulation on.
"In a democratic society, one of our foundational principles is that no person is above the law," Smith wrote in a blog post. "No government is above the law. No company is above the law, and no product or technology should be above the law. This leads to a critical conclusion: People who design and operate AI systems cannot be accountable unless their decisions and actions are subject to the rule of law."
In the post, Smith wrote up a five-point plan to help govern AI, including the implementation of "safety breaks" for when AI is used for "critical infrastructure."
"In this approach, the government would define the class of high-risk AI systems that control critical infrastructure and warrant such safety measures as part of a comprehensive approach to system management," Smith wrote, referring to areas such as the electric grid, water systems or healthcare.
The five points are as follows:

Implement and build upon new government-led AI safety frameworks.
Require effective safety brakes for AI systems that control critical infrastructure.
Develop a broad legal and regulatory framework based on the technology architecture for AI.
Promote transparency and ensure academic and nonprofit access to AI.
Pursue new public-private partnerships to use AI as an effective tool to address the inevitable societal challenges that come with new technology.

The new plan laid out by Smith comes after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman called for regulation at the first Congressional hearing on AI earlier this month.
Microsoft (MSFT) has invested billions of dollars into OpenAI and incorporated its technology into many of its products.
Google (GOOG) (GOOGL), which has seen increased competition from Microsoft (MSFT) in the search space and in competition for AI talent and mindshare, is working with the European Union to create its own form of AI governing.
Last month, the Biden Administration laid out a formal request for comment to look into potential regulation for AI products and services amid concerns about development in the industry.
In March, tech luminaries such as Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak wrote a letter that called for a six-month pause in the development of many AI tools to develop new safety standards for the technology.
The normally pro-business friendly U.S. Chamber of Commerce also wrote a report in March that called for AI regulation.
A new poll published earlier this week found nearly two-thirds of Americans think AI poses a significant risk to humanity.
More on artificial intelligence and its implications

Microsoft dips as Bernstein says Copilot AI is going 'everywhere'
The White House is looking to develop a national AI strategy
Tech has had a strong start to 2023. That bodes well for the rest of the year.