California Governor Vetoes Contentious AI Safety Bill
California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a landmark bill aimed at establishing first-in-the-nation safety measures for large artificial intelligence models. The bill, known as SB 1047, mandated safety assessments for substantial AI systems prior to their public launch, empowered the state’s attorney general to initiate lawsuits against corporations for severe repercussions, and required the implementation of a kill switch in scenarios involving biowarfare, mass casualties, or significant property harm.
Newsom criticized the bill, arguing it was deficient because it concentrated excessively on regulating the largest AI systems while neglecting to address the potential dangers and damages associated with the technology. He suggested that lawmakers should revise the proposal for the next legislative session.
The decision to reject the bill is likely to provoke strong backlash from technology experts and academics who have advocated for its passage. Despite the veto, the California safety initiative is motivating lawmakers in other states to pursue similar legislation.
