California Lawmakers Pass AI Safety Bill, Newsom’s Veto Possible

California Lawmakers Pass AI Safety Bill, Newsom’s Veto Possible
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California lawmakers have passed a new AI safety bill, SB 53, which is now awaiting approval or veto from Governor Gavin Newsom. The legislation, authored by Senator Scott Wiener, follows Newsom’s veto of a similar, but more expansive, bill last year.

According to TechCrunch, SB 53 aims to establish world-leading AI safety requirements while also fostering innovation. The bill requires developers of the most powerful and expensive AI models to implement safety protocols, report critical safety incidents to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, and provide whistleblower protections. It also includes a “CalCompute” provision to promote AI development by democratizing access to advanced models and tools.

The bill’s new, streamlined approach appears to be a direct response to Newsom’s veto of SB 1047 last year, which he cited as being too stringent and potentially hindering innovation. SB 53 has been amended to apply only to the most powerful models, with different disclosure obligations based on company revenue.

The bill’s passage comes after intense negotiations with the tech industry, and while most major companies have opposed it, the AI company Anthropic has publicly endorsed it.