California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two AI regulation bills on September 10, further strengthening the state's regulatory framework for artificial intelligence. Notably, the bills received the endorsement and support of major AI companies prior to their introduction.
The signing comes amid growing concerns over AI safety. Earlier, Jacob Coxon, a former researcher at Anthropic, announced his departure and issued a warning about the potential for the AI industry to accelerate catastrophic risks. In response, Newsom stated that recent events have validated California's long-held view that while AI holds immense potential, its development and deployment must be accompanied by substantial safety measures. Newsom also called on the federal government to enact national AI regulations that match the urgency of the current situation.
California AI Regulation Bills to Raise Industry Safety Standards
Among the two bills, SB 813, proposed by State Senator Jerry McNamara, will establish the California AI Standards and Safety Board to develop voluntary AI safety standards. Meanwhile, AB 1405, introduced by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, will create a registration system for AI risk audit firms and regulate the certification of auditors.
At the industry level, both OpenAI and Anthropic publicly expressed their support for the bills prior to their signing. OpenAI's Director of Public Policy, Chris Lehane, stated that as AI capabilities have entered a new phase, the corresponding policy framework must also keep pace. Anthropic noted that their long-term investment in safety measures motivated their support for the industry to collaborate in a legal and verifiable manner to jointly manage the release of powerful models. Both companies stated they would work towards establishing compatible international standards to reach a consensus on issues such as measuring capabilities, managing risks, and retaining human control.