Microsoft joins plea for government regulation of AI tools like ChatGPT

Microsoft President Brad Smith went to the other Washington this week to ask government officials to put guardrails up around artificial intelligence.

At the D.C. event, Smith made the case for regulating the technology behind tools like ChatGPT.

“I think we need to think about two things here in the United States,” Smith said. “First is to enable innovation to go forward with guardrails that both provide the assurance that the American public wants and deserves, but frankly, shows the world that there is a path where we can innovate quickly and responsibly.”

Microsoft is positioned to seize a huge opportunity in generative AI as a major investor and partner with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. Microsoft has integrated the technology into its Bing search engine, thrusting the company ahead of longtime search engine king Google in the AI arms race. The Redmond, Wash. software giant is also integrating AI into its enterprise tools like Office 365.

Last week, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testified about the need for regulation of the ascendant technology before Congress. Smith reportedly advised Altman ahead of the hearing.