California Considers Regulations for AI Companies

California lawmakers are considering a groundbreaking bill that would impose strict safety regulations on AI companies, requiring extensive testing and safeguards to prevent catastrophic events like power grid failures and chemical weapon production. The legislation, authored by Sen. Scott Wiener, targets AI systems demanding over $100 million in computing power to train, a threshold not yet reached by current models. Despite opposition from tech giants like Meta and Google, who argue that regulations should focus on malicious users, the bill aims to mitigate risks from future powerful AI models. Governor Newsom supports AI regulation and potential deployment for public benefits. The proposal, backed by renowned AI researchers, includes creating a state agency for oversight and best practices.