Elon Musk Urges California to Pass AI Safety Bill Amid Growing Legislative Efforts
San Francisco, The Gulf Observer: Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk has called on California lawmakers to pass a bill that would mandate safety testing for AI models developed by tech companies. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Musk emphasized the need for regulation, stating, “For over 20 years, I have been an advocate for AI regulation, just as we regulate any product/technology that is a potential risk to the public.” He urged support for Senate Bill 1047 (SB 1047), which focuses on implementing these safety measures.
The call comes amid a flurry of legislative activity in California concerning artificial intelligence. According to the state’s legislative database, lawmakers attempted to introduce 65 AI-related bills during this legislative session. These bills cover a range of issues, including ensuring algorithmic decisions are free from bias and protecting the intellectual property of deceased individuals from AI exploitation. Despite these efforts, many of the proposed bills have already failed to progress.
On the same day, Microsoft-backed OpenAI expressed support for a different AI bill in California, Assembly Bill 3211 (AB 3211). This bill would require tech companies to label AI-generated content, addressing concerns over the potential spread of misinformation through deepfakes and other AI-generated media.
Musk’s advocacy for SB 1047 highlights the ongoing debate over the regulation of AI technologies, with industry leaders and legislators grappling with how best to balance innovation with public safety.
