California State Senator Scott Wiener has proposed Senate Bill 1047 (SB 1047) to regulate the development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) models. The bill requires AI companies to conduct rigorous safety evaluations of their models before releasing them to the public. Despite high-profile objections from OpenAI, Wiener argues that the criticisms are baseless and asserts that the bill is crucial for ensuring public safety and national security. OpenAI’s chief strategy officer Jason Kwon warned that the bill could stifle innovation and drive talent out of California, suggesting that federal legislation would be more appropriate for governing AI development. Wiener, however, believes state-level action is necessary, especially given Congress’s lack of engagement on AI regulation.
Wiener defended SB 1047 by emphasizing that it is a highly reasonable measure designed to ensure that large AI labs, like OpenAI, adhere to their commitments to test their models against catastrophic safety risks. He highlighted the collaboration with source advocates, Anthropic, and others in refining the bill, asserting that it is well-calibrated and deserves to be enacted. A poll conducted by the Artificial Intelligence Policy Institute revealed that 70% of Californian voters surveyed supported the bill, expressing concerns that powerful AI models could be misused for cyber-attacks or developing biological weapons. Only 16% supported the opponents’ view that the bill could hinder AI innovation in California, accusing its supporters of fear-mongering. Wiener believes the provisions in the bill are essential for safeguarding the public from potential dangers posed by advanced AI systems, expressing confusion over OpenAI’s opposition given their prior commitments to safety evaluations.
OpenAI’s opposition to SB 1047 has raised concerns about stifling AI innovation and talent in California, which has long been a global leader in the tech industry. Kwon argued that the AI sector is still in its early stages and that overly restrictive state regulations could hinder its growth. He suggested that federal legislation would be more appropriate for governing AI development, citing concerns over the potential impact on California’s tech industry. Wiener, however, dismissed these concerns as a tired argument, comparing them to objections raised by the tech industry when California passed its data privacy law. He acknowledged the ideal scenario of Congress handling AI regulation but expressed skepticism given Congress’s previous lack of engagement with data privacy laws.
The debate between California State Senator Scott Wiener and OpenAI highlights the ongoing discussions surrounding AI regulation and the balance between innovation and safety. Wiener continues to defend SB 1047, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that large AI labs conduct safety evaluations of their models to protect public safety and national security. Despite OpenAI’s objections, Wiener believes that state-level action is necessary, as demonstrated by strong public support for the bill, citing concerns over the potential misuse of powerful AI models. As the debate continues, the future of AI regulation remains a critical topic for policymakers, industry leaders, and the public.
