California Governor Vetoes Controversial AI Safety Bill SB 1047
Governor Gavin Newsom rejects SB 1047, arguing the AI safety bill applies overly stringent standards without considering how the technology is actually used. The veto represents a major win for Silicon Valley opponents who feared the legislation would stifle innovation.
California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoes SB 1047, a highly debated bill that seeks to regulate artificial intelligence development in the state. The proposed legislation requires companies to implement safety protocols to prevent critical harms for AI models that cost over $100 million to train. Opponents in Silicon Valley, including OpenAI and Meta's Yann LeCun, strongly oppose the bill, while supporters see it as necessary oversight for massive tech corporations.
Newsom explains that the bill fails because it applies stringent standards to even basic AI functions as long as a large system deploys them. He argues the legislation does not consider whether an AI system operates in high-risk environments or handles sensitive data. Prominent figures like Nancy Pelosi praise the veto, noting that it allows small entrepreneurs and academia to thrive rather than just big tech companies.
Despite rejecting this specific bill, Newsom emphasizes his ongoing commitment to AI regulation by signing 17 other AI-related bills in the last 30 days. He enlists experts like Fei-Fei Li to help develop more practical guardrails for generative AI deployment. Meanwhile, State Senator Scott Wiener criticizes the veto as a significant setback for public safety and corporate accountability.