Author of Vetoed California AI Bill Says Issue ‘Not Going Away’

California's ambitious attempt to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) has been met with a veto from Governor Gavin Newsom, but the bill's author, state Sen. Scott Wiener, remains undeterred. In an interview with Playbook, Wiener expressed his disappointment with the veto but emphasized that the issue of AI safety is far from resolved. "This is not going away," he said, highlighting the urgent need for regulations to protect the public from potential AI-related risks.

The Frontier Artificial Intelligence Models Act, SB 1047, aimed to establish safety measures for large-scale AI models, requiring companies to test their models and disclose safety protocols. Newsom vetoed the bill, citing concerns about its broad scope and potential burden on AI companies. However, Wiener believes that the bill's veto has sparked a much-needed conversation about AI safety and that the issue will continue to gain traction in the coming years.

Wiener's commitment to pushing for AI regulations is unwavering, and he plans to reintroduce the bill or a similar measure in the future. He acknowledged that the task of balancing innovation and public safety is challenging but emphasized the importance of finding a solution that protects Californians from AI-related threats. "We can't just let the genie out of the bottle and hope for the best," Wiener said, stressing the need for proactive measures to mitigate potential AI risks.

The veto of SB 1047 has not dampened public support for AI regulations in California. A recent poll conducted by the University of Southern California (USC) found that about 57 percent of the state's likely voters supported Wiener's bill, with only about 15 percent opposed. This strong public backing suggests that the issue of AI safety will remain a priority for lawmakers in the coming years.

As the AI industry continues to grow and evolve, the need for regulations to protect the public from potential risks will become increasingly pressing. Wiener's determination to push for AI safety measures, despite the veto, underscores the importance of this issue in California and beyond. The conversation about AI regulations is far from over, and lawmakers, industry experts, and the public will continue to grapple with the challenges and opportunities presented by this rapidly advancing technology.