United Kingdom, Oct. 12 -- Milk and washing machines are currently subject to more safety regulation than artificial intelligence, according to Microsoft's president, Brad Smith, who has called for urgent global rules governing the technology.

Speaking to the BBC's Big Boss Interview podcast, Smith said AI should be treated as both a "tool and a weapon" and argued that governments could adapt existing safety systems to deal with its risks.

He said: "Right now, your washing machine is subject to more safety rules than AI. Every carton of milk that you see in the grocery store is subject to safety rules and inspection."

Smith called for AI companies to have "emergency brakes" that could pause or slow systems if they behaved unexpectedly....