Nancy Pelosi from the United States attends the 2024 Munich Security Conference on February 17, 2024 in Munich, Germany. The conference is bringing together political and defence leaders from all over the world. It is taking place as Russia's war in Ukraine will soon enter its third year and the conflict in Gaza continues to grind on. (Photo : Johannes Simon/Getty Images)
US Congresswoman, Nancy Pelosi is not supporting the SB 1047, a new California bill that regulates artificial intelligence (AI).
Based on a statement released on August 17, Yahoo Finance shared that Pelosi described the bill as "well-intentioned but ill-informed," expressing concerns that it could do more harm than good. She also cited that other Bay Area congresspeople, including Zoe Lofgren, Anna Eshoo, and Ro Khanna, share similar reservations about the proposed legislation.
While Pelosi emphasized the need for AI legislation to serve as a model for the nation, she stressed that it should also support small entrepreneurs and academic institutions rather than favoring large tech companies.
State Senator Scott Wiener, who sponsored the bill, countered Pelosi's with a strong disagreement. He argued that the bill is designed to ensure that only the largest AI developers are required to conduct basic safety tests on their powerful AI models, a measure he believes is necessary and already pledged by these companies.
California AI Bill or SB 1047 intends to prevent AI disasters by imposing strict safety requirements on large AI models.
Per Tech Crunch, the bill will hold AI developers accountable for implementing safety measures by requiring established protocols to avoid critical harms and to get their models certified by a new state agency.
Besides Pelosi, the bill has also faced strong opposition from Silicon Valley. Critics, including tech giants and startups, argue that the bill's requirements are too burdensome and could stifle innovation. They claim it could negatively impact the AI industry and limit technological progress in California.
SB 1047l is now set for a final vote in the state senate and, if approved, will be reviewed by Governor Gavin Newsom before becoming law.
Pelosi and other federal lawmakers do not have a direct say in state legislation, but her position and profile are likely to impact discussions and votes among California politicians.