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Microsoft's Nadella calls for human-controlled AI 'emergency brake'

What's the deal? Microsoft chief executive officer Satya Nadella says advanced AI systems need an "emergency brake" that humans control, arguing people must retain the ability to halt the technology if it behaves in unintended ways.

Why now? The comments land as AI capabilities accelerate and scrutiny over safety intensifies across the industry. Nadella, who leads one of the biggest backers of the technology, is weighing in as developers push increasingly autonomous systems.

What's the endgame? Microsoft has staked much of its future on AI, embedding it across its products and services. Nadella's framing suggests that control mechanisms — not just raw capability — should sit at the centre of how the technology is built.

The signal: A call for a human "off switch" from one of AI's most influential figures reflects a wider shift in the conversation, from how fast AI can advance to how safely it can be contained.

Read more: CNBC

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