California Governor Vetoes AI Safety Bill
California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed the AI Accountability and Safety Act (SB 1047), which sought to ensure large-scale AI systems are safe by applying stringent safety standards and allowing the California Attorney General to sue if these technologies cause serious harm. Governor Newsom noted that the bill, which would have imposed some of the broadest AI regulations in the country, lacked an evidence-based approach to AI safety, but that a “California-only” approach may still be needed.
Read the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation’s (ITIF) press statement in response to Governor Newsom’s veto and about why the California bill would have undercut more sensible federal efforts.
California Governor Signs Several Other AI Bills Into Law
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed 18 AI bills into law, including new AI-specific laws such as the AI Training Data Transparency Act (AB 2013), which requires generative AI developers to post documentation regarding the data used to train a given system once the system is available for use in California on their website and the California AI Transparency Act (SB 942), which requires developers to provide free detection tools that can identify AI-generated content produced by their systems. The governor also signed bills that amend existing laws, such as AB 1831, which adds digitally altered or AI-generated child pornography to existing California statutes covering these offenses.
OMB Issues Guidance on Government Procurement of AI Systems with a Focus on Responsible Acquisition
The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued new guidance to help federal agencies responsibly acquire AI systems. The memo emphasizes three key points: agencies should integrate AI risk management into their procurement processes, promote collaboration across different teams and agencies, and ensure AI purchases encourage competition by avoiding vendor lock-in.