California Lawmakers Amend AI Safety Bill

California's Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial Intelligence Models Act, known as SB-1047, has passed a key committee vote, introducing significant safety regulations for large AI models. The amended bill requires developers to implement safety measures and allows the state attorney general to pursue legal action for catastrophic harms caused by AI technologies. Recent revisions reflect input from tech companies like Anthropic, leading to changes that reduce liability for developers and shift regulatory responsibilities to an existing state agency. Notably, the bill has faced criticism from some members of Congress and industry stakeholders who argue it poses risks to California's economy with minimal public safety benefits. The bill is expected to be voted on by the full legislature by the end of August, with Governor Gavin Newsom having until September 30 to sign or veto it. The outcome may set a precedent for AI regulations across the United States.