California advances unique safety regulations for AI companies despite tech firm opposition

Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California lawmakers have advanced a bill that would regulate powerful artificial intelligence systems. The bill advanced Tuesday would require AI companies to test their systems and add safety measures so they can’t be potentially manipulated to wipe out the state’s electric grid or help build chemical weapons. The bill’s author says the proposal would prevent “catastrophic harms” from extremely powerful AI models that may be created in the future. Meta and Google say the bill fundamentally misunderstands the industry and would hamper the state’s growing AI market. The proposal would only apply to the largest systems that are still being developed.