California considers unique safety regulations for AI companies, but faces tech firm opposition

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Category: Technology/Innovations

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Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. warp speed / wɔrp spid / (n.) – an extremely high speed
    Example:

    Technological advancements are happening at warp speed.


  2. tout / taʊt / (v.) – to promote or praise something in an enthusiastic way, especially to make people like it
    Example:

    Food experts have touted this restaurant as the best place to eat delicious food.


  3. perilous / ˈpɛr ə ləs / (adj.) – very dangerous
    Example:

    The politician found himself in a perilous position after the scandal broke out.


  4. renowned / rɪˈnaʊnd / (adj.) – widely known due to an achievement or good quality
    Example:

    She became a renowned doctor after she discovered the cure for a disease.


  5. oversee / ˌoʊ vərˈsi / (v.) – to watch and organize a group or an activity to ensure that things are done correctly
    Example:

    The manager’s role is to oversee the department’s progress on the project.


Article

Read the text below.

California lawmakers are considering legislation that would require artificial intelligence 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—scenarios that experts say could be possible in the future as technology evolves at warp speed.


The first-of-its-kind bill aims to reduce risks created by AI. It is fiercely opposed by tech companies, including Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, and Google. They say the regulations take aim at developers and instead should be focused on those who use and exploit the AI systems for harm.


Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener, who authors the bill, said the proposal would provide reasonable safety standards by preventing “catastrophic harms” from extremely powerful AI models that may be created in the future. The requirements would only apply to systems that cost more than $100 million in computing power to train. No current AI models have hit that as of July.


“This is not about smaller AI models,” Wiener said at a recent legislative hearing. “This is about incredibly large and powerful models that, as far as we know, do not exist today but will exist in the near future.”


Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has touted California as an early AI adopter and regulator, saying the state could soon deploy generative AI tools to address highway congestion, make roads safer and provide tax guidance. At the same time, his administration is considering new rules against AI discrimination in hiring practices. He declined to comment on the bill but has warned that overregulation could put the state in a “perilous position.”


The proposal, supported by some of the most renowned AI researchers, would also create a new state agency to oversee developers and provide best practices. The state attorney general also would be able to pursue legal actions in case of violations.


A growing coalition of tech companies argues the requirements would discourage companies from developing large AI systems or keeping their technology open-source.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Sen. Scott Wiener wants to prevent “catastrophic harms” from powerful AI models by requiring companies to test their systems and add safety features. Do you agree with this approach? Why or why not? What catastrophic harms do you think powerful AI models might bring? Discuss.
  • Gov. Gavin Newsom supports using AI to solve state issues but warns against overregulation. Do you think his concerns about overregulation are valid? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Tech companies argue that the legislation would discourage the development of large AI systems. Do you think these regulations would slow down innovation, or are they necessary for safety? Discuss.
  • How do you feel about the use of AI in areas such as highway congestion, road safety, and tax guidance? Can you think of other areas where AI could be beneficial? Discuss.