California AI Safety Bill Nears Final Approval
California lawmakers have passed a highly debated artificial intelligence (AI) safety bill, known as SB 1047, which now awaits a final procedural vote. The bill's fate will then rest with Governor Gavin Newsom, who has until September 30 to either sign it into law or veto it.
The legislation, which targets tech companies developing generative AI—capable of producing text, images, or audio in response to prompts and automating tasks—has faced significant opposition from the industry. Critics argue that the bill could stifle innovation and drive AI companies out of California.
Despite the pushback, the bill has gained support from some notable figures, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who also leads an AI company, xAI. However, some Democrats in Congress, including Representative Nancy Pelosi, have expressed concerns about the bill.
If enacted, SB 1047 would require safety testing for advanced AI models that cost more than $100 million to develop or those utilizing a specified amount of computing power. The bill also mandates that developers create a "kill switch" to deactivate AI systems if they become problematic.
Additionally, the state attorney general would be granted authority to take legal action against non-compliant developers, particularly in cases where the AI poses an ongoing threat.
