California Governor Vetoes Bill That Attempted To Regulate AI

SB 1047 is a bill that was initiated by senator Scott Wiener of California. The idea behind the bill was to make AI companies be responsible for developing safe AI products, to make them implement systems and guardrails for the development of safe AI that would not pose harm to the public. It was meant to provide oversight to big tech companies developing AI at scale.

The bill was passed by California’s state legislature. However, Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed the bill saying that he doesn’t believe the bill is the best way to protect the general public from negative AI consequences. He said “the bill applies stringent standards to even the most basic functions – so long as a large system deploys it.” He argues that rather, the bill should have considered if the AI is “deployed in high-risk environments, involves critical decision making or the use of sensitive data.”

Other opposers of the bill included OpenAI, Meta, Ro Khanna (US congressman), and Nancy Pelosi (House Speaker) amongst others.