Landmark AI bill passes in California Assembly
The California State Assembly on Wednesday passed what could be the most comprehensive artificial intelligence regulation bill to date.
Senate Bill 1047, authored by state Sen. Scott Wiener, a San Francisco progressive Democrat, would compel AI companies to take various safety measures to protect the public from cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, prevent AI from being used to develop chemical, nuclear, or biological weapons, or enable automated crime.
The bill, which passed the Assembly by a 41-9 vote, has so far enjoyed bipartisan support from state lawmakers. It now returns to the state Senate before it goes to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. It must pass the state Senate by Aug. 31 to reach the governor’s desk this year.
“Innovation and safety can go hand in hand—and California is leading the way,” Wiener said in a statement Wednesday. “The Assembly has taken the truly historic step of working proactively to ensure an exciting new technology protects the public interest as it advances.”
The advancement comes as the bill has polarized Silicon Valley and California political leaders.
The latest — and most surprising — to come out in support of the bill was tech billionaire Elon Musk, the Donald Trump-supporting, often regulation-averse Tesla CEO and X owner.
Meanwhile several prominent Democratic lawmakers, including San Francisco Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Mayor London Breed, and Silicon Valley Reps. Ro Khanna and Zoe Lofgren oppose the bill.
Newsom has yet to signal whether he would sign it into law.