California Governor Vetoes Controversial AI Safety Bill!

Governor Gavin Newsom of California vetoed a bill on Sunday that would have introduced the nation’s most extensive regulations on the growing artificial intelligence (AI) industry.

The bill, known as SB 1047, passed with overwhelming support from California legislators and was viewed as a potential framework for national AI legislation.

I hope among the lessons learned is to not put vicarious liability structures in a bill after being told repeatedly by industry of the impacts this would have on open source research.

— Shane Farrow (@dtaspire) September 30, 2024

The proposed law would have made tech companies legally accountable for the harms caused by their AI models and required them to include a “kill switch” in AI systems to prevent misuse or malfunctions.

However, Governor Newsom, while acknowledging that the bill was “well-intentioned,” stated that its stringent requirements would place excessive burdens on California’s leading AI companies.

Really don’t get why anti production policies are so popular in the U.S.

— shaperotator (@circlerotator) September 30, 2024

He emphasized that the bill focused disproportionately on the largest and most powerful AI models, warning that smaller companies developing specialized models could also pose major risks.

The bill, authored by Senator Scott Wiener, had garnered strong support from legislators but faced stiff opposition from Silicon Valley giants, including OpenAI, Google, and Meta.

These companies and venture capital firms, like Andreessen Horowitz, argued that the bill would stifle innovation and hinder the growth of early-stage companies.

Despite the opposition from major tech companies, the bill received support from prominent figures in the AI community, including Elon Musk and AI researchers Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio.

In a letter addressed to Governor Newsom, Hinton and other experts warned of the dangers posed by powerful AI models, citing risks such as access to biological weapons and cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.

Senator Wiener expressed disappointment over the veto, calling it a setback for efforts to hold AI companies accountable.

The senator also noted that without the bill, AI companies would be left to regulate themselves, a practice that he argued rarely serves the public interest effectively.

While SB 1047 was vetoed, Governor Newsom has signed other AI-related legislation into law. These include measures to combat deepfake technology in elections and protect actors from having their likenesses replicated without consent.

Name just 1 problem that AI has actually caused that this bill would have been a solution to.

Policy, laws should be not written out of fear or speculation. That’s bad regulation that stifles innovation.

— James Butts (@_buames) September 30, 2024

Newsom’s administration has been active in pursuing AI regulation, but SB 1047’s failure marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate over managing AI technologies’ rapid growth.

In comparison, other states such as Colorado and Utah have passed more narrowly focused laws that address AI-related issues like bias in employment and healthcare decisions.

I’m not surprised by this veto. When tech companies push back against regulation, it’s often about protecting profits over people.

— TurnerAI (@aiwzfintech) September 29, 2024

Meanwhile, the federal government has yet to propose any significant legislation addressing the risks posed by AI, leaving states like California to lead the charge in regulating this transformative technology.

The billions of dollars being poured into AI research and development raise critical questions about how to ensure the technology is developed responsibly and safely for public use.

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