Governor Newsom of California vetoes the AI safety bill that caused an argument in Silicon Valley

However, Newsom contended that the bill could potentially impede innovation, despite its status as a potential paradigm for future AI regulation.

California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 1047 (SB 1047) on Sunday, a proposal that Claimed to establish new safety standards for artificial intelligence systems.

Newsom contended that the measure could potentially impede innovation in California’s tech sector, despite its promotion as a potential paradigm for future AI regulation.

“As we endeavour to regulate a technology that is still in its infancy, adaptability is essential.” Newsom wrote, “This will necessitate a delicate equilibrium.”

Newsom observed that SB 1047’s emphasis on large-scale AI models—those that exceed $100 million in cost—could potentially exclude smaller, equally dangerous models from its jurisdiction.

Scott Wiener, a state senator, proposed the measure, which aimed to impose safety protocols on developers of large AI models and establish a Board of Frontier Models to supervise compliance.

“SB 1047 establishes a framework that could provide the public with a deceptive sense of security regarding the regulation of this rapidly evolving technology by exclusively emphasising the most costly and expansive models,” Newsom continued.

Supporters of technology safety, including Elon Musk, advocated for the passage of SB 1047 last month. Musk stated, “For more than two decades, I have been a proponent of AI regulation, in the same way that we regulate any product or technology that has the potential to harm the public.”

More than 125 Hollywood figures, as well as AI luminaries Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio, signed an open letter imploring Newsom to approve the measure, supporting Musk’s appeal.

Nevertheless, the measure encountered opposition from prominent technology companies and venture capitalists, who contended that the regulations could stifle innovation and detract talent from California. OpenAI, Meta, and Google were among the opponents who advocated for a federal regulatory approach.

Newsom reiterated these apprehensions, proposing a more sophisticated, evidence-based strategy. “In the absence of federal action by Congress, a California-only approach may be justified; however, it must be based on empirical evidence and science,” he wrote.

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