Exclusive: Employees at top AI firms back California's AI bill
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Around 120 current and former employees of OpenAI, Anthropic, Google's DeepMind and Meta have issued a statement in support of California's new AI regulation bill.
The big picture: Among other provisions, the bill adds whistleblower protections for employees who speak up about the risks in the AI models their companies are developing.
Catch up quick: California's SB 1047 has passed both the State Assembly and Senate and now sits on Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk, awaiting his signature or veto by Sep. 30.
What they're saying: "We believe that the most powerful AI models may soon pose severe risks, such as expanded access to biological weapons and cyberattacks on critical infrastructure," the signed statement of support for SB 1047 says.
- "It is feasible and appropriate for frontier AI companies to test whether the most powerful AI models can cause severe harms, and for these companies to implement reasonable safeguards against such risks," the statement reads.
A group of academics, including Harvard Law professor Lawrence Lessig, also offered public support for the bill last week, admitting that it didn't address every risk, but calling it a "solid step forward."
Between the lines: The list of signatures on Monday's letter includes Turing Award winner Geoffrey Hinton, formerly of Google Brain; former OpenAI superalignment co-lead Jan Leike; and Rob Keele, head of legal at Elon Musk's xAI.
Yes, but: OpenAI opposes SB 1047, saying it will slow innovation.
- Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), San Francisco Mayor London Breed, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Software & Information Industry Association and other tech advocacy groups also oppose the bill.
