PeopleofSuperintelligence

Public voice

Brad Smith

Brad Smith is Microsoft's vice chair and president, and a public voice on how governments should govern AI. He studied at Princeton and Columbia Law before joining Microsoft in 1993; he became general counsel in 2002 and president in 2015. He co-wrote Tools and Weapons in 2019 and wrote the foreword to an AI governance blueprint in 2023. In 2025, he urged federal support for AI infrastructure; in October 2026, he called for incident reporting, victim notification and independent AI evaluation.

Now at
Microsoft

Timeline

  1. By 1986

    Appleton, Princeton and Columbia Law

    At age 13, he begins regular debates with his mother in Appleton, Wisconsin. He studies at Princeton and attends Columbia Law School with Kathy Surace before starting his first law-firm job in 1986.

  2. 1986

    A computer at Covington

    Before accepting a Covington & Burling job in 1986, he asks for a personal computer on his desk.

  3. 1993–2002

    Microsoft's European legal team

    He joins Microsoft in 1993 to lead its European corporate and legal affairs team. In 2002, he becomes general counsel.

  4. 2015–2021

    President and vice chair

    Microsoft makes him president in 2015, and he adds the vice chair title in 2021.

  5. 2019–2022

    Tools and Weapons and a medal

    In 2019, he co-writes Tools and Weapons with Carol Ann Browne, arguing for faster oversight by technology companies and governments. In 2022, Columbia Law selects him for its Medal for Excellence, its highest honor.

  6. 2023

    A public AI governance blueprint

    In May 2023, he writes the foreword to Microsoft's five-point AI governance blueprint. In September 2023, he testifies before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee on AI legislation and supports risk-based oversight, safety and privacy protections.

  7. May 2025

    Testimony on the AI race

    In May 2025, he urges Congress to support AI infrastructure and modernize the electric grid as part of the U.S. AI effort.

  8. Since 2021

    Vice chair and president

    He is Microsoft's vice chair and president. In October 2026, he calls for incident reports, victim notification after AI-related security breaches, and independent government evaluation of new AI technology.

Sources and credits

Photo: We have no published photo of Brad Smith yet. Send us a free-licensed photo.

  1. Brad Smith ’84: Ambassador From the Realm of Big Tech | Columbia Law School law.columbia.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. Tools and Weapons – On the Issues news.microsoft.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. How do we best govern AI? - Microsoft On the Issues blogs.microsoft.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. Developing and deploying AI responsibly: elements of an effective legislative framework to regulate AI - Microsoft On the Issues blogs.microsoft.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. Winning the AI race: Strengthening U.S. capabilities in computing and innovation - Microsoft On the Issues blogs.microsoft.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  6. Right now, your washing machine is subject to more safety rules than AI: Microsoft's Brad Smith wants more AI kill switches | IT Pro itpro.com. Checked 15 October 2026.