California Assembly passes landmark AI safety bill

California lawmakers passed a landmark artificial intelligence safety bill , potentially establishing the most comprehensive AI regulation in the U.S. In a 41-9 vote, the California State Assembly passed the Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial Intelligence Models Act, also known as SB 1047, moving it to the state Senate for final approval before sending it to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk .

The legislation introduces stringent safety measures for AI companies, including pre-deployment safety testing, implementation of robust shutdown capabilities, and ongoing risk assessments.

AI companies that fail to conduct required safety tests could face civil action from California’s attorney general if their AI technology is used to harm people or property, marking a shift from traditional tech liability shields.

There is strong opposition to the bill , with industry surrogates launching extensive lobbying campaigns.

In a letter written by Bay Area Council, Silicon Valley Leadership Group and others, the AI bill “would badly set back artificial intelligence (AI) in California and beyond. It is fundamentally flawed and mistargeted.”

X CEO Elon Musk said he backs the legislation.

“This is a tough call and will make some people upset, but, all things considered, I think California should probably pass the SB 1047 AI safety bill," Musk wrote on X.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has not shared where he stands on the issue. He’ll have until Sept. 30 to decide if he wants to sign it into law, if it passes the state Senate.

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