California Governor Vetoes Controversial AI Bill
Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a contentious bill focused on artificial intelligence (AI) safety, drawing mixed reactions from stakeholders across the tech industry and advocacy groups.
On Sunday, just a day before the deadline, Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 1047 (SB1047), known as the Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial Intelligence Models Act, as reported by Xinhua news agency. The bill, introduced by State Senator Scott Wiener, aimed to mandate safety tests for large AI models to mitigate the risks of “catastrophic harm” before they are released to the public. It also proposed holding developers accountable for serious harm caused by their AI systems.
In his veto letter, Newsom stressed the importance of responsibly regulating the AI industry but criticized the bill for amplifying fears about AI threats and potentially stifling innovation that benefits the public.
The bill had received overwhelming support in the state legislature in August and was backed by AI safety advocacy groups, labor unions, and some high-profile figures advocating for responsible AI development. However, it faced significant opposition from numerous members of Congress and major AI companies, including Google, Meta, and OpenAI, who argued that it could hinder innovation and compromise California’s competitive edge in the AI sector.
Senator Wiener expressed disappointment over the veto, labeling it “a setback in oversight of massive corporations.” The Center for AI Safety Action Fund described the decision as “an unnecessary and dangerous gamble with the public’s safety.”
Teri Olle, director of Economic Security California Action, pointed to the influence of major tech firms on policymaking, suggesting that the bill’s failure underscores “the enduring power and influence of the deep-pocketed tech industry” in maintaining the status quo.
Conversely, Newsom’s decision was welcomed by business groups and some leading AI experts. The California Chamber of Commerce praised the veto, claiming the bill would have stifled AI innovation and jeopardized California’s status as a global innovation hub.
Fei-Fei Li, co-director of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence and a critic of SB1047, supported the governor’s decision, emphasizing that AI regulation should be informed by “scientific evidence to foster innovation while mitigating risks.”
On the same day, Newsom announced that his administration had enlisted Li and other AI experts to help develop effective protections for AI deployment.
