California's SB 1047: The Battle Over AI Regulation

California's SB 1047 bill aims to regulate the development and deployment of AI. Proposed by Senator Scott Wiener, it mandates safety testing, a kill switch for AI models, and third-party audits. Tech giants and some lawmakers oppose it, fearing it could stifle innovation and drive developers away from California.

California lawmakers are preparing to vote on SB 1047, a bill that seeks to regulate the development and deployment of artificial intelligence across the state. This has sparked considerable opposition from tech giants and certain legislators.

Introduced by State Senator Scott Wiener, SB 1047 requires safety testing for advanced AI models costing over $100 million or necessitating significant computing power. It also mandates developers to implement a 'kill switch' for malfunctioning AI and submit to third-party audits to ensure compliance.

The bill has passed the state Senate and is awaiting a full Assembly vote. While some legislators and tech luminaries like Geoffrey Hinton support it, others, including Nancy Pelosi, argue it could deter innovation and drive developers out of California. The tech industry is calling for federal regulation, citing the bill's potential impact on open-source AI models.

(With inputs from agencies.)