On Wednesday, California lawmakers passed SB 1047, a deeply discussed artificial intelligence safety measure (reported by Reuters). The bill will now go through one final process vote before being sent to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. He has until September 30 to sign it into law or veto.
Key Provisions and Industry Pushback
The regulation is aimed at inventors of generative AI technology, which may generate text, images, or audio while doing tasks autonomously. The measure requires safety assessment for powerful AI models that cost more than $100 million to develop or that use a lot of computer power. Developers must also provide a “kill switch” that will shut off AI systems if they malfunction.
The law has received strong opposition from technology companies, who fear that it will hinder innovation and drive AI enterprises out of California. “It’s got the most bipartisan, broad opposition I’ve ever seen,” said Martin Casado, general partner of venture capital company Andreessen Horowitz, prior to the vote. Industry titans succh as Google, OpenAI (supported by Microsoft), and Meta have expressed alarm over the bill’s implications.
Support and Concerns
Despite the pushback, the bill has garnered support from some high-profile figures. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who also runs the AI firm xAI, has publicly backed the proposal. The bill’s sponsor, Democratic State Senator Scott Wiener, represents San Francisco, a hotbed for artificial intelligence development. He contends that proactive regulation is required to protect the public from potentially irreversible breakthroughs in AI technology.
Acccording to Weiner, legislation is necessary to protect the public before advances in AI become either unwieldy or uncontrollable.
Enforcement and Oversight
SB 1047 empowers the state attorney general to take legal action against non-compliant AI developers, especially if there is an ongoing threat, such as an AI system attacking essential infrastructure like the power grid. The bill also mandates AI corporations to hire third-party auditors to assess their safety procedures and provides rights for whistleblowers who expose AI abuse.
What’s next?
With the bill now in the hands of Governor Newsom, tech corporations and lawmakers alike are awaiting his decision. Although companies like as Amazon-backed Anthropic recognize that the bill’s benefits may outweigh its negatives, they nevertheless find areas of concern and ambiguity.
The conclusion might have far-reaching consequences not only for the future of AI development in California, but also for establishing regulatory precedents throughout the country.