California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed the SB 1047 bill, which focuses on regulating artificial intelligence (AI). The bill generated extensive debate and mixed reactions among politicians and leading tech companies.
The Vetoed Bill
On September 30, Gavin Newsom vetoed the SB 1047 bill, known as the Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial Intelligence Models Act. The bill proposed mandatory safety testing of AI models and other safeguards, raising concerns among tech firms about potential hindrance to innovation.
Governor's Position
In a September 29 statement, Newsom noted that the bill was overly focused on regulating existing large AI firms without addressing the real threats posed by the new technology. He argued that the stringent standards applied even to basic functions if deployed by large systems. Newsom questioned whether this was the best approach to protecting the public.
Reaction to the Bill
Authored by San Francisco Democratic Senator Scott Wiener, the SB 1047 bill required developers in California, including major firms like OpenAI, Meta, and Google, to implement a 'kill switch' for their AI models and publish plans for mitigating extreme risks. Newsom said he had asked the world's leading AI safety experts to help California develop realistic safety measures. He also directed state agencies to expand their assessment of risks from potential catastrophic events stemming from AI development.
Despite vetoing SB 1047, Newsom emphasized the need for adequate safety protocols for AI. He indicated that regulators cannot afford to wait for a major catastrophe before taking action to protect the public. In the last 30 days, Newsom’s administration has signed over 18 bills concerning AI regulation.
