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A contentious artificial intelligence safety bill has been passed by Californian lawmakers, leaving it one step away from becoming law.
The bill, known as SB 1047, aims to introduce the Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial Intelligence Models Act, which would set a number of requirements for AI developers to ensure they are developed ethically and safely.
These requirements, among others, include developers implementing a full shutdown capability before a model is developed and for the developer to “retain an unredacted copy of the safety and security protocol for as long as the covered model is made available for commercial, public, or foreseeably public use plus five years, including records and dates of any updates or revisions and would require a developer to grant to the Attorney-General access to the unredacted safety and security protocol”.
It would also allow the state Attorney-General to sue and take action against developers who do not follow the regulations.
Senator Scott Wiener, who introduced the bill, believes that it aims to hold AI developers to “common sense safety standards.”
Additionally, the former inaugural director of the US Department of Defense Joint Artificial Intelligence Centre, Lieutenant General John (Jack) Shanahan, said the bill “thoughtfully navigates the serious risks that AI poses to both civil society and national security”.
Similarly, the former assistant secretary of Defense for nuclear, chemical and biological defense programs, Honourable Andrew C. Weber, also believes that the bill would protect US national security against the misuse of powerful AI.
“The theft of a powerful AI system from a leading lab by our adversaries would impose considerable risks on us all,” he said.
“Developers of the most advanced AI systems need to take significant cyber security precautions given the potential risks involved in their work. I’m glad to see that SB 1047 helps establish the necessary protective measures.”
While the bill does hold developers to account, tech companies behind the development of generative AI tools have said the legislation could harm development and innovation and push companies out of California, the home of Silicon Valley.
ChatGPT creator OpenAI is one such organisation against the bill, which said the move could see California lose its title of global leader in AI development.
Several US Congress Democrats, including Nancy Pelosi, have also voiced their opposition to the bill.
Surprisingly, Tesla CEO and xAI founder Elon Musk has backed the bill, which is a shock considering his Grok generative AI has come under fire for its lack of limitations and use for the spread of misinformation.
“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 said on X.
“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.”
Whether the bill will become legislation or not is currently a decision given to Governor Gavin Newsom, who has been given until 30 September to decide if SB 1047 will become law.
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