California's AI Bill sparks debate, Musk supports but Meta & Google oppose
- In Reports
- 12:40 PM, Aug 27, 2024
- Myind Staff
California, the epicentre of Silicon Valley, has taken a significant step in regulating artificial intelligence with the introduction of a new AI safety bill, SB 1047. The bill has already been passed by the state Senate and is set for a vote in the State Assembly by the end of this week.
This groundbreaking legislation seeks to hold major AI developers accountable for their creations, particularly those investing over $100 million in developing AI models.
Despite gaining support, California state Senator Scott Wiener, co-author of the bill, has accused some opponents of "fearmongering" in an attempt to prevent the state legislation from being passed.
The AI safety bill, SB 1047, would impose greater responsibility on developers investing over $100 million in creating an AI model. The bill's requirements include rigorous safety testing, ensuring that AI models are thoroughly tested to guarantee safety. Developers must also implement safeguards to prevent their AI from causing harm. If an AI model leads to severe harm, such as mass casualties or damages exceeding $500 million, the state attorney general would be empowered to take legal action against the developer.
The bill mandates independent audits to verify the safety and compliance of AI models, and it requires that AI systems include a built-in kill switch to allow for instant shutdown if necessary. Additionally, the legislation will protect individuals who report unsafe practices within AI companies.
As AI technology evolves rapidly, concerns about its potential risks have increased. Supporters of SB 1047 argue that without proper regulations, AI could pose serious threats to society. On the other hand, opponents, including major tech companies, fear that the bill could hinder innovation and make California less appealing for AI research and startups.
Elon Musk, the owner of AI company xAI, has thrown his support behind SB 1047. “This is a tough call and will make some people upset, but, all things considered, I think California should probably pass the SB 1047 AI safety bill.” he posted on X.
Emphasising the need for AI regulation to protect the public he said, "for over 20 years, I have been an advocate for AI regulation, just as we regulate any product/technology that is a potential risk to the public."
Senator Scott Wiener, a key advocate for the bill, has gained support from several prominent figures in the AI community. During a virtual press conference, he was joined by AI experts like Yoshua Bengio and leaders from safety organisations, including Dan Hendrycks from the Centre for AI Safety.
Major companies like Google, Meta, and OpenAI have expressed concerns, arguing that the bill's stringent regulations could hinder AI development and put California at a competitive disadvantage.
In a letter to Wiener, OpenAI’s chief strategy officer, Jason Kwon, stated that while the company supports certain aspects of the bill, it believes AI regulations should be decided at the federal level.
Dr. Fei-Fei Li from Stanford has cautioned that the bill could adversely affect smaller players in the AI field, including those in academia and the public sector. Additionally, some Democratic lawmakers, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have advocated for a veto, arguing that AI regulation should be managed federally.
SB 1047 has already passed the state Senate and is set to be voted on by the State Assembly by the end of the week. After any further amendments, the bill will return to the Senate for a final vote. If it is approved, it will then be sent to Governor Gavin Newsom for signing. At this point, Newsom has not yet indicated whether he will support the bill.
Image source: Hindustan Times
Comments