The bill SB-1047, aimed at regulating artificial intelligence (AI), has passed a significant milestone in the California legislature. The State Assembly approved the bill with 45 votes in favor and 11 against.
AI Experts Support Bill
The bill SB-1047 requires developers of large-scale AI, costing over $100 million to train, to incorporate a 'kill switch' to prevent adverse effects on the public. Supporters of the bill argue that it is necessary due to the increasing autonomy of AI. State Senator Scott Weiner mentioned that AI experts like Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio voiced concerns about the potential threats of AI. Last year, Hinton and Bengio co-authored a statement warning about the risks that could lead to human extinction if AI is not controlled properly.
Criticism and Impact on Innovation
However, the bill SB-1047 faced substantial criticism from AI research and business proponents. They argue that the bill focuses more on future risks rather than current issues like deep fakes and fake news. Fei-Fei Li, the Director of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI, expressed that the bill threatens innovation due to increased liability for developers. She noted that this could reduce the sharing of AI models and weights, which is essential for academic and collaborative purposes. California business leaders signed an open letter urging Governor Newsom to veto the bill.
Governor Newsom's View on AI Regulation
In May of this year, at a symposium at UC Berkeley, Governor Gavin Newsom stated that proper regulation is a fine line. He expressed concerns that over-regulation could put the state in a 'very precarious situation.' However, Newsom also acknowledged the necessity of some regulation, considering the questions raised by AI industry representatives.
The bill SB-1047 is heading to Governor Gavin Newsom for signature. If approved, it will mark an important step in regulating AI use in California.
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