AI legislation coming to California?

Shortly after bemoaning the EU for their AI Act (AIA), it appears that Silicon Valley will soon have their own bill to worry about.

This first piece of legislation within the USA for artificial intelligence has passed through the state assembly.

The bill is looking to reduce potential risks created by AI, which would require companies to test their models and publicly disclose their safety protocols to prevent manipulation.

With the bill now awaiting the Governors signature, he (Gavin Newsom) has until the end of September 2024 to sign it into law, veto it or allow it into law without signing.

Some developers have hit out at the bill as they believe it targets the wrong sector within AI. They feel it targets them but it should be the aimed at those who use and exploit AI systems.

As it stands, California has several proposed bills that are aimed at the AI industry, with particular focus on algorithm discrimination and deepfakes. With 35 of the top 50 AI companies in the world based in California, there is a lot of focus on these bills as their impact will ripple across the globe.

Will this act really reduce innovation or provide regulation that every other sector adheres to? Early adopters of the ISO AI standard (42001) are required to act responsibly with their AI but that doesn't mean a lack of innovation, only ensuring that risks are identified and treated appropriately.