In summary
- California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 1047 (SB 1047), which sought to establish new security standards for artificial intelligence systems.
- Newsom argued that the proposal could slow innovation in California’s tech sector and that the focus on large-scale AI models could leave out smaller but equally risky models.
- The bill, authored by state Sen. Scott Wiener, sought to impose safety protocols for developers of large AI models and establish a Cutting Edge Models Board to oversee compliance.
On Sunday, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 1047 (SB 1047), a proposal that sought to establish new security standards for artificial intelligence systems.
Although the bill was presented as a possible model for future AI regulation, Newsom argued that it could slow innovation in California’s technology sector.
“Adaptability is essential as we race to regulate a technology that is still in its infancy. This will require a delicate balance,” Newsom wrote.
Newsom noted that SB 1047’s focus on large-scale AI models, those costing more than $100 million, could leave smaller but equally risky models out of reach.
The bill, authored by state Sen. Scott Wiener, sought to impose safety protocols for developers of large AI models and establish a Cutting Edge Models Board to oversee compliance.
“By focusing only on the most expensive, large-scale models, SB 1047 creates a framework that could give the public a false sense of security about controlling this fast-moving technology,” Newsom added.
SB 1047 received support from tech security advocates, including Elon Musk, who called for its passage last month. “For more than 20 years, I have advocated for the regulation of AI, just as we regulate any product or technology that poses a risk to the public,” Musk said.
Musk’s call was backed by prominent AI experts Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio, along with more than 125 Hollywood figures, who signed an open letter urging Newsom to pass the bill.
However, the bill faced resistance from major tech players and venture capitalists who argued that the regulations could stifle innovation and drive talent away from California. OpenAI, Meta and Google were among the opponents, preferring a federal approach to regulation.
Newsom echoed these concerns, suggesting a more nuanced and evidence-based approach.
“A California-only approach may well be justified, especially in the absence of federal action by Congress, but it must be informed by empirical and scientific evidence,” he wrote.
Senator Wiener expressed disappointment in the veto, warning that without regulation, AI companies would continue to self-regulate without enforceable safety standards.
While Newsom has signed other laws related to artificial intelligence, including measures to combat deepfakes in elections and protect actors’ likenesses from being replicated by AI without consent, his rejection of SB 1047 underscores the challenge of balancing innovation with oversight .
Newsom pledged to work with experts, lawmakers and federal partners to develop future AI regulations, promising to “find the appropriate path forward.”
Edited by Sebastian Sinclair
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