Big Tech Advocating AI Regulation While Fighting CA AI Bill

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues transforming industries globally, calls for regulation are growing louder. Interestingly, some of the most vocal proponents of AI regulation are the very companies at the forefront of AI development—Big Tech.

Yet, despite their public endorsements of AI oversight, these tech giants are united in their opposition to a specific AI regulatory bill making its way through California’s legislature. Why?

The Bill in Question: California’s SB 1047

The bill, known as SB 1047, has sparked intense debate. Introduced by Senator Scott Wiener, a Democrat from San Francisco, the “Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial Intelligence Models Act” is designed to impose stringent safety measures on AI developers.

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It mandates that AI systems with development costs exceeding $100 million undergo rigorous safety testing to identify risks, such as threats to public infrastructure, potential for mass casualty events, or the creation of weapons of mass destruction.

Additionally, the bill would require developers to incorporate a “kill switch” into their AI systems to shut them down if they pose an imminent threat.

SB 1047 also proposes protections for whistleblowers within AI companies, enabling them to report unsafe practices without fear of retaliation. These provisions are intended to encourage transparency and safety in an industry that many fear is moving too quickly for its own good.

Opposition to the bill isn’t limited to tech companies. High-profile California Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have criticized SB 1047 as “ill-informed.” Pelosi and others argue that the bill could drive AI development out of the state, which could have a significant impact on California’s economy.

Despite the opposition, SB 1047 has its supporters, including some AI researchers and former tech industry insiders. For instance, Daniel Kokotajlo, a former OpenAI employee who turned whistleblower, supports the bill, particularly its whistleblower protections.

Kokotajlo has publicly expressed concerns about the speed and safety of AI development, describing the current lack of regulation as a threat to humanity.

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The bill also has backing from advocacy groups like Encode Justice, which focuses on mitigating the harms of AI. These groups argue that holding tech companies accountable for the safety of their AI products is long overdue.

As the California legislature moves closer to a final vote on SB 1047, the outcome remains uncertain. Governor Gavin Newsom has not yet taken a definitive position on the bill, balancing the need to regulate AI with the desire to maintain California’s leadership in technology.

Good to see these federal lawmakers taking a strong stand against the truly horrible AI bill moving in Calif (SB 1047) and calling for Gov. Newsom to veto it if it gets to his desk.
But these lawmakers need to think beyond just California’s over-zealous AI regulatory effort and… https://t.co/d6vA4HqIK8

— Adam Thierer (@AdamThierer) August 15, 2024

Newsom has cautioned against overregulation, warning that it could put the state in a “perilous position,” but also acknowledged the necessity of leading in the AI regulatory space.

The debate over SB 1047 underscores the broader tension between fostering innovation and ensuring safety in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.

As AI continues to integrate into everyday life, the decisions made in California could set the stage for future regulations both in the U.S. and globally.

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