California Governor Gavin Newsom recently vetoed Senate Bill 1047, a landmark AI safety bill that would have imposed stringent regulations on AI developers to mitigate potential risks.
While supporters of the bill, including its author, State Senator Scott Wiener, argued it would provide critical safety measures in the absence of federal action, Newsom explained that the bill was overly broad, applying strict standards to all AI systems regardless of their function or risk level.
Newsom’s decision comes at a time when AI regulation is a key concern, with the EU leading efforts to regulate the sector and U.S. Congress lagging.
Major tech companies like Google, Meta, and OpenAI opposed the bill, citing fears it could stifle innovation. In contrast, companies like Anthropic and Elon Musk expressed cautious support.
Newsom emphasized that his administration is working with AI experts, such as Fei-Fei Li, to create more targeted and science-based regulations.
His goal is to ensure that regulations focus on high-risk AI applications while allowing innovation in less critical areas. He committed to continuing this effort during the next legislative session.
While some praised the veto as a step toward balanced AI governance, critics, including Senator Wiener and advocacy groups like Accountable Tech, condemned it as a missed opportunity to lead on tech regulation and protect the public from the potential harms of unregulated AI.
These critics argue that without such legislation, large tech firms remain unchecked in their AI development, potentially endangering civil rights and democracy.