California’s state senate recently approved a new AI safety bill, SB 53, and sent it to Governor Gavin Newsom for potential signing. This bill focuses on big AI companies with over $500 million in annual revenue.
In a discussion on DailyTech’s Equity podcast, Max Zeff and Kirsten Korosec share insights on SB 53. Max believes the bill has a better chance of becoming law due to its focus on larger AI companies and endorsement by AI company Anthropic.
Max: The importance of AI safety legislation lies in regulating the power of AI companies, which are becoming increasingly influential. SB 53 imposes regulations on AI labs, requiring them to publish safety reports and report incidents to the government. It also protects employees who raise concerns.
Kirsten highlights the significance of California as a hub for AI activity, making state-level regulations crucial. She questions Max about the complexity of SB 53 compared to previous bills.
Max: SB 53 includes exceptions to avoid impacting small startups, focusing on AI developers generating over $500 million. This targets major companies like OpenAI and Google DeepMind.
Anthony: Smaller startups must share some safety information, but not to the same extent. The discussion also touches on the evolving landscape of AI regulation under the new administration.
Equity is DailyTech’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and releases episodes every Wednesday and Friday.
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