AI Industry Seeks to Crush California’s Attempt to Regulate AI
In a brazen attempt to stifle innovation and protect their own interests, OpenAI’s chief strategy officer, Jason Kwon, has penned a letter urging the federal government to take control of AI regulations, rather than allowing California to set its own standards.
Kwon’s letter, addressed to California State Senator Scott Wiener, is a thinly veiled attempt to undermine the state’s efforts to establish safeguards for the development and deployment of AI models. Wiener had introduced SB 1047, a bill aimed at ensuring the safe and responsible development of AI, but OpenAI is desperate to maintain its grip on the industry.
A Federally-Driven Takeover
Kwon’s letter claims that a federally-driven set of AI policies would foster innovation and position the US to lead the development of global standards. But what he really means is that the federal government would be able to impose its own set of rules, allowing OpenAI and other industry giants to continue operating with impunity.
California’s Bill: A Threat to the Status Quo
SB 1047, on the other hand, would establish standards ahead of the development of more powerful AI models, require precautions like pre-deployment safety testing, and provide whistleblower protections for employees of AI labs. It would also give California’s Attorney General the power to take legal action if AI models cause harm, and establish a "public cloud computer cluster" called CalCompute.
But OpenAI is terrified of this bill, because it would expose the industry’s reckless disregard for safety and ethics. By opposing SB 1047, OpenAI is attempting to maintain its stranglehold on the AI industry, and prevent California from setting a precedent for responsible AI development.
Wiener Fires Back
Senator Wiener has responded to OpenAI’s letter, pointing out that the proposed requirements apply to any company doing business in California, regardless of where they are headquartered. He also noted that OpenAI has failed to criticize a single provision of the bill, and that SB 1047 is a "highly reasonable bill" that asks large AI labs to do what they’ve already committed to doing – test their large models for catastrophic safety risk.
The Battle for AI Regulation
The fate of SB 1047 hangs in the balance, as the bill awaits its final vote before going to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. Will California stand up for its citizens and demand responsible AI development, or will OpenAI and its allies succeed in crushing the bill and maintaining their grip on the industry? The outcome will have far-reaching implications for the future of AI and the safety of our society.
