Universal Basic Income

Elon Musk

California-based AI firms are protesting the new AI bill that imposes tighter controls on the sector and potentially stifles innovation. The proposed bill compels firms to adhere to a strict safety framework. This will include creating a “kill switch” to turn off their powerful AI models as the battle to control the sector escalates. &nbsp;
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Some measures proposed under the bill might negatively impact tech firms like Meta, while it will also create restrictions for AI startup firms like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere.
State senate passed the bill last month and now set for a vote from its general assembly in August this year.
<h2 id="the-california-bill-threatens-open-source-ai-models">The California bill threatens open-source AI models</h2>
According to <a href="https://arstechnica.com/ai/2024/06/outcry-from-big-ai-firms-over-california-ai-kill-switch-bill/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">arstechnica</a>, big tech firms must guarantee they will never create models that are harmful to society, like nuclear weapons or aid cyber security attacks.
However, the proposed bill is receiving a backlash from some stakeholders in the sector, arguing this has a knock-on effect on startups who might be forced to leave the state. It may also prevent big firms like Meta from open-sourcing their models.
“If someone wanted to come up with regulations to stifle innovation, one could hardly do better,” said Andrew NG, a computer scientist who led AI projects at Google and China’s Baidu, and sits on Amazon’s board.
“It creates massive liabilities for science-fiction risks, and so stokes a fear in anyone daring to innovate.”
Arun Rao, a lead product manager for generative AI at <a href="https://www.cryptopolitan.com/meta-chief-says-its-early-to-worry-about-agi/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Meta</a> said the “unworkable” bill would “end open-source (in California).”
<h2 id="the-protests-are-expected-according-to-senator-wiener">The protests are expected, according to Senator Wiener</h2>
Democratic state Senator Scott Wiener, who introduced the bill, shrugged off the criticism. Although facing a backlash for being overly restrictive, the legislator indicated the protests were nothing new, coming from the tech sector.
<blockquote>
 “This is the tech sector, it doesn’t like to have any regulation so its not surprising to me at all that there would be push back.”
 Senator Scott Wiener.
</blockquote>
“Fundamentally I want AI to succeed and innovation to continue but let’s try and get out ahead of any safety risks,” he said.
San Francisco-based non-profit organization <a href="https://www.safe.ai/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Center for AI Safety (CAIS),</a> headed by Dan Hendrycks co-sponsored the California bill.
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Hendrycks supported the bill, saying it could help address one of the problems in the sectors – cutting corners at a time when people also want “some basic oversight.”
“There are these competitive pressures that are affecting these AI organizations that incentivize them to cut corners on safety.”
The AI sector has experienced rapid growth, which has also raised concerns about the safety of the technology. Last year, tech billionaire Elon Musk called AI a <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/elon-musk-tells-sky-news-ai-is-a-risk-to-humanity-12998024" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">“threat to humanity.”</a>
Cryptopolitan reporting by Enacy Mapakame

Uproar in California tech sector over proposed AI bill

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