Legislators across the United States are working on implementing regulations to control the development and deployment of high-level artificial intelligence models.
SB 1047 Developments
The SB 1047 bill, introduced by California Senator Scott Wiener, was presented in February 2024. The bill aims to mandate standardized safety testing for the most advanced AI models, which either cost over $100 million to develop or require a specific amount of computing power. According to the bill, AI software developers within California need to provide methods for shutting down the models in emergency situations, often referred to as a 'kill switch.'
Tech Companies' Reactions
The bill was recently revised by Wiener, influenced by Anthropic and other tech companies, to address some of Big Tech's complaints. One revision included nixing the creation of a government-led AI oversight committee. However, Wiener has also opposed companies like OpenAI, Alphabet’s Google, and Meta, stating their concerns as unfounded and exaggerated.
AI Developers' Position
AI developers like Anthropic have shown support for certain aspects of the bill. In a letter to California governor Gavin Newson, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei mentioned that SB 1047 has been significantly improved, though some aspects are still concerning or ambiguous. He added, 'Our initial concerns about the bill potentially hindering innovation due to the rapidly evolving nature of the field have been greatly reduced in the amended version.'
In summary, California's SB 1047 bill aimed at regulating AI development and deployment has sparked active discussions and disagreements among tech companies and software developers.
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