California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a closely watched AI regulation, SB 1047, that would have implemented some of the country’s most extensive safety protocols for powerful AI systems. As we covered last month, California’s status as home to many of the world’s top AI developers meant the bill’s progress was closely watched and hotly contested.
In a statement, Newsom wrote that while the bill was “well-intentioned,” it was too focused on the largest models and ignored the risks posed by smaller models or systems deployed in particularly risky environments. But observers also pointed to robust lobbying efforts by tech and venture capital firms, as well as opposition from prominent members of California’s congressional delegation, as key factors in Newsom’s decision.
The bill had undergone significant changes since its introduction in response to industry feedback, earning it the support of some major AI developers like Anthropic and Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI CEO Elon Musk. But others, like San Francisco-based OpenAI, raised concerns about the bill’s impact on innovation and argued that AI regulation was best left to the federal government.
While Newsom vetoed SB 1047, he did sign a number of more targeted AI bills, including AB-2013, which will require generative AI companies to disclose information about their training data, and SB-942, a law that will require watermarking for AI-generated content.
More: Senator Wiener Responds to Governor Newsom Vetoing Landmark AI Bill | Governor Newsom announces new initiatives to advance safe and responsible AI, protect Californians
This newsletter excerpt is from the October 17, 2024, edition of policy.ai — CSET’s newsletter on artificial intelligence, emerging technology, and security policy, written by Alex Friedland. Other stories from this edition include:
- DOD Announces Replicator 2 — Counter-Drone Defenses the Focus
- OpenAI Raises $6.6 Billion — But Departures Point to Difficult Transition
- Commerce Considering Country-Specific Chip Export Caps
- FTC Cracks Down on AI Over-Promising
- OMB Issues Guidance on Responsible AI Acquisition
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