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Home to the largest AI firms in the world, California’s administration has approved several artificial intelligence bills except for SB 1047, a Senate Bill that focused on managing the threats emerging from the deployment of AI. 

California’s Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed the Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial Intelligence System bill (SB 1047), claiming the regulatory framework “could give the public a false sense of security about controlling this fast-moving technology” by focusing only on the most expensive and large-scale models. 

California’s governor claimed that small models could be equally dangerous as the models targeted by SB 1047. The vetoed bill has been criticized by the community and the Silicon Valley in the past, believing the active status of the regulatory framework could stifle innovation.  

Although agreeing with the author of the bill that safety protocols need to be established, Newsom claimed, “I do not agree, however, that to keep the public safe, we must settle for a solution that is not informed by an empirical trajectory analysis of Al systems and capabilities.”

Pointing out the problems with the SB 1047, Newsom said, “While well-intentioned, the SB 1047 does not take into account whether an Al system is deployed in high-risk environments, involves critical decision-making, or the use of sensitive data.” 

“Instead, the bill applies stringent standards to even the most basic functions — so long as a large system deploys it. I do not believe this is the best approach to protecting the public from real threats posed by the technology.”  

California has been taking action to regulate the AI sector and mitigate the risks that arise from the new emerging tech. Over the past 30 days, Newsom signed 17 bills, such as the regulation of GenAI technology, cracking down on deepfakes, requiring AI watermarking, and more.