California Senator Scott Wiener is once again committed to advancing AI safety legislation, with the new bill SB53 awaiting Governor Newsom's signature. Wiener had previously attempted to introduce a bill called SB1047 in 2024, but it faced strong opposition from Silicon Valley and was ultimately rejected by the governor. While SB53 still faces challenges, it appears more popular and has even gained support from some technology companies.

Law

SB53 aims to require major AI labs with revenues exceeding $5 billion, such as OpenAI and Google, to publish safety reports detailing potential risks posed by their AI systems. These reports will cover risks such as causing human deaths, cyberattacks, and chemical weapons. Unlike the previous SB1047, this bill no longer imposes liability on AI companies but focuses more on transparency and self-reporting.

In addition, SB53 establishes a secure privacy reporting channel for employees of AI labs, allowing them to report safety issues to government officials. The bill also plans to establish a state-owned cloud computing cluster called CalCompute to support AI research resources beyond large technology companies.

Although some technology companies still believe that AI regulation should be handled by the federal government, Wiener stated that due to a lack of trust in the federal government, state governments have a responsibility to take action on AI safety. He believes that the current U.S. federal government's focus on AI is overly centered on growth, while neglecting safety regulation.

Wiener's goal is to ensure California leads the nation in AI safety, promoting technological innovation while balancing public health and safety. He pointed out that the tech industry cannot rely solely on self-regulation to ensure safety and that reasonable laws and regulations are necessary to protect public interests.

Key Points:  

🌟 ** New bill SB53 requires large AI companies to publish safety reports, marking the first time AI's potential risks are made transparent.**  

🛡️ ** The bill establishes a reporting channel for employees, encouraging internal reporting of safety hazards within tech companies.**  

📈 ** Wiener emphasizes that the state government has a responsibility to take action on AI safety, highlighting the necessity of safety regulation.**