California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed Senate Bill 1047 (SB1047), a proposed AI safety bill aimed at regulating the development and deployment of advanced artificial intelligence models. The decision has ignited a heated debate among lawmakers, tech industry leaders, and advocacy groups.
Introduced by Democratic State Senator Scott Wiener, SB1047 sought to mandate safety testing for advanced AI models to prevent ‘catastrophic harm’ before they could be released to the public. The bill targeted AI models costing over $100 million to develop or requiring significant computing power. It also proposed the creation of a state entity responsible for overseeing the development of “Frontier Models” with capabilities surpassing existing AI systems.
In his veto message, Governor Newsom argued that the bill applied uniform standards to all AI systems without considering the different contexts in which they are used or their associated levels of risk. He emphasized the need for an empirical, science-based approach to AI regulation and noted that he has enlisted leading experts in generative AI to help the state develop effective safety measures.
The tech industry largely welcomed the veto. The Chamber of Progress, a tech coalition, praised the decision, stating that California’s tech economy thrives on competition and openness. Major AI developers like Google, Meta, and OpenAI opposed the bill, arguing that it could hinder innovation and weaken both the state’s and the United States’ global competitiveness in AI development.
Supporters of the bill, including Senator Wiener, expressed disappointment over the veto. They warned that it leaves powerful AI developers unregulated and makes California less safe. Wiener criticized the AI industry’s voluntary commitments to safety as often unenforceable and ineffective.
Some AI experts sided with Governor Newsom’s view, advocating for a balanced, evidence-based approach to regulation. Fei-Fei Li, co-director of Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, agreed with the call for careful regulation that both mitigates risks and supports innovation.
The veto of SB1047 highlights the ongoing tension between innovation and regulation in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. As California navigates this complex landscape, the decisions made could have far-reaching implications for AI development both nationally and globally.
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California governor vetoes AI safety bill amid industry pushback
cgtn.com
