California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 1047 on Sunday, a contentious piece of legislation aimed at regulating artificial intelligence (AI). The bill, known as the Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial Intelligence Models Act, passed the California Legislature in August and sought to enforce stringent testing on AI models to prevent potential threats such as mass casualties, infrastructure attacks, and cybercrime. It also included whistleblower protections and proposed the creation of a public cloud for developing AI for the common good.
The bill would have established a new state entity, the Board of Frontier Models, to oversee AI model development. However, Newsom’s veto emphasized concerns that the legislation could stifle AI innovation and create a “false sense of security” by targeting expensive AI models while ignoring smaller, potentially dangerous ones. He expressed skepticism about regulating AI models without comprehensive empirical evidence, warning that the bill’s broad approach could hinder progress rather than protect the public.
Newsom also criticized the bill’s one-size-fits-all regulatory approach, noting that it imposed heavy requirements on all AI systems, regardless of their risk profile. He called for more nuanced legislation and reaffirmed his commitment to collaborating with state lawmakers and federal partners on AI safety measures.
The bill’s supporters, including prominent figures like Elon Musk, AI company Anthropic, and various tech and advocacy groups, viewed SB 1047 as a necessary step towards safeguarding the public from AI-related risks. Musk’s endorsement of the bill was unexpected, given his history of criticizing California lawmakers. Nevertheless, major tech corporations such as Google, Meta, and OpenAI opposed the bill, arguing that it would damage California’s economy and disrupt AI industry growth.
Senator Scott Wiener, the bill’s author, lamented the veto, calling it a missed opportunity for California to lead on AI regulation. Meanwhile, the California Chamber of Commerce praised Newsom’s decision, stating that the bill’s overregulation would have undermined the state’s position as a global leader in tech innovation.
Although SB 1047 has been halted, Newsom has previously signed several AI-related bills and committed to ongoing efforts to regulate the technology. His administration continues to work with federal agencies and stakeholders to craft evidence-based AI legislation in the future.
