Official press release or announcement from the Office of the Governor of California

Governor Newsom Vetoes Senator Wiener's AI Safety Bill SB 1047, Citing Need for Comprehensive Approach

Sep 29, 2024, 09:35 PM

California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed SB 1047, a controversial AI safety bill that would have required developers of the most powerful AI systems to conduct safety tests and implement protocols to prevent critical harm before deployment. Authored by state Senator Scott Wiener, the bill had garnered support from AI experts like Stuart Russell and was approved by the legislature. In his veto message, Newsom stated, 'I do not believe this is the best approach to protecting the public from real threats posed by the technology.' He expressed concern that focusing only on large AI models overlooks potential dangers from smaller, specialized models, and emphasized the need for a comprehensive and effective regulatory framework. Newsom highlighted that California is home to 32 of the world's 50 leading AI companies and stressed the importance of not stifling innovation. He announced plans to work with stakeholders, including academic institutions like Stanford's Human-Centered AI Institute, to develop workable guardrails for deploying generative AI. The veto elicited mixed reactions; tech industry leaders applauded the decision for supporting innovation, while supporters of the bill viewed it as a 'missed opportunity' for California to lead on AI safety regulation.