California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed bill SB 1047, designed to prevent misuse of AI causing harm to humans, despite being approved by the state assembly. Various organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, urged Newsom to veto the bill. In his veto message, Newsom expressed concerns about the bill’s stringent standards and lack of consideration for high-risk environments or critical decision-making. The bill would have held developers of AI models accountable for implementing safety measures and imposed hefty fines for violations. However, Newsom disagreed with the bill’s approach of targeting large-scale AI models, stating it may give a false sense of security and hinder innovation. The bill faced opposition from tech researchers and industry leaders, prompting amendments before it was passed. Newsom emphasized the need for proactive safety measures and clear consequences for bad actors in the AI space, highlighting the importance of regulations keeping pace with technological advancements.
