California AI bill under scrutiny by US policymakers

Senator Scott Wiener defends California’s AI bill, SB 1047, against criticism from Nancy Pelosi and other policymakers, emphasizing the need for oversight beyond tech companies.

California State Senator Scott Wiener, in response to criticism from Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, defended an artificial intelligence bill, arguing that safety should not be entrusted solely to technology companies and venture capitalists.

California’s Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial Intelligence Models Act, also known as Senate Bill 1047, requires AI developers to put together security protocols to curb incidents such as major cyberattacks.

Despite criticisms, the Assembly Appropriations Committee passed Senator Wiener’s SB 1047 with significant amendments introduced by the author. Wiener has defended the bill and said that while technology companies commit to safety testing, they “balk at oversight” and regulation.

“Innovation and safety are not mutually exclusive, and I reject the false claim that in order to innovate, we must leave safety solely in the hands of technology companies and venture capitalists,” Senator Wiener said in a statement.

“While a large majority of people innovating in the AI space are highly ethical people who want to do right by society, we’ve also learned the hard way over the years that pure industry self-regulation doesn’t work out well for society,” he added.

Opposition from US policymakers

The AI bill has faced much opposition, including from Representative Pelosi. She said that while SB 1047 is well-intentioned, it is ill-informed:

“While we want California to lead in AI in a way that protects consumers, data, intellectual property and more, SB 1047 is more harmful than helpful in that pursuit.”

Others, like Representative Zoe Lofgren, ranking member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, said the bill would create “unnecessary risks for both the public and California’s economy.”

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Startups not covered in the AI bill

In his own statement, Senator Weiner pointed out that the bill does not cover startups and that Google and Meta oppose it:

“While we have engaged with the largest tech companies in addition to startups and academics, none of the largest developers support SB 1047, and most currently oppose it.”

The bill passed the Senate with bipartisan support and must pass the Assembly by Aug. 31.

“I would welcome a strong federal AI safety law that preempts SB 1047. Unless and until Congress is able to pass such a law, California should continue to lead on policies like SB 1047 that foster innovation while also protecting the public,” Weiner said.

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