California Legislator Revives Effort to Require AI Safety Transparency
📷 Image source: techcrunch.com
California State Senator Lena Gonzalez is renewing her push for stricter oversight of artificial intelligence systems with a revived proposal mandating safety evaluations for advanced AI models. The legislation, SB 1047, would require developers of powerful AI systems to conduct rigorous safety testing and submit compliance reports to a new state regulatory body. Gonzalez argues these measures are necessary to mitigate risks like algorithmic bias, misinformation propagation, and potential threats to critical infrastructure. The bill specifically targets AI systems exceeding certain computational thresholds or capable of autonomous replication. Tech industry groups have expressed concerns about compliance costs, while civil society organizations praise the initiative as a necessary safeguard. This comes as federal AI regulation remains stalled in Congress, putting pressure on states to act. Similar proposals are being considered in New York and Illinois, though California's approach is notably more comprehensive in its reporting requirements.
