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California state senator Scott Wiener wants to stop the creation of dangerous A.I. But critics say he is jumping the gun.
Aug. 14, 2024, 5:01 a.m. ET
A California bill that could impose restrictions on artificial intelligence has tech companies, investors and activists scrambling to explain what the first-of-its-kind legislation could mean for their industry in the state.
The bill is still winding its way through the state capital in Sacramento. It is expected to reach the California state assembly appropriations committee on Thursday before facing a vote by the full assembly.
If signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the bill would require companies to test the safety of powerful A.I technologies before releasing them to the public. It would also allow California’s attorney general to sue companies if their technologies cause serious harm, such as mass property damage or human casualties.
The debate over the A.I. bill, called SB 1047, is a reflection of the arguments that have driven intense interest in artificial intelligence. Opponents believe it will choke the progress of technologies that promise to increase worker productivity, improve health care and fight climate change.
Supporters believe the bill will help prevent disasters and place guardrails on the work of companies that are too focused on profits. Just last year, many A.I. experts and tech executives led public discussions about the risks of A.I. and even urged lawmakers in Washington to help set up those guardrails.
Now, in an about-face, the tech industry is recoiling at an attempt to do exactly that in California. Because they are based in the state and do business in the state, many of the leading A.I. companies, including Google, Meta, Anthropic and OpenAI, would be bound by the proposed law, which could set a precedent for other states and national governments.
