Scott Wiener is open to working with Newsom on possible AI legislation next year

California’s AI regulatory landscape evolves: Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a sweeping AI regulation bill authored by Senator Scott Wiener, opting instead to establish a panel of experts to study future statewide AI safety rules.

• Newsom’s office announced a panel of three experts to examine AI regulations, with the possibility of expanding the group in the future.
• The current panel members are Stanford Professor Fei-Fei Li, UC Berkeley Dean Jennifer Chayes, and Carnegie Endowment for Peace President Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar.
• Senator Wiener expressed openness to working with the panel, emphasizing the need for diverse viewpoints in the group.

Expert panel composition raises questions: The selection of panel members with strong ties to the AI industry has sparked discussions about potential conflicts of interest and the need for more critical perspectives.

• All three panel members have connections to major AI companies or initiatives, raising concerns about their ability to provide unbiased input on regulations.
• Fei-Fei Li, often called the “godmother of AI,” recently announced an AI startup backed by $230 million in venture capital.
• Jennifer Chayes has a long history with Microsoft, a major backer of OpenAI, which opposed Wiener’s original bill.
• Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar sits on the board of Inflection AI, a company focused on fine-tuning AI programs.

Balancing innovation and regulation: The panel’s formation highlights the ongoing debate between fostering AI innovation and implementing necessary safeguards.

• Governor Newsom’s veto message emphasized the need to consider potential dangers from both large and smaller, specialized AI models.
• Panel members have expressed support for responsible AI development while cautioning against overly restrictive regulations that could hinder innovation.
• The governor’s office indicated that AI skeptics and critics have been consulted in the past and may be included in future discussions.

Transparency and disclosure concerns: Questions remain about the panel’s operational transparency and potential conflicts of interest.

• It is unclear whether panel members will be required to disclose their financial stakes in AI companies they may be tasked with regulating.
• The governor’s office stated that details about transparency and disclosure requirements will become clearer in the coming months.

Looking ahead to future legislation: The expert panel’s work is expected to inform potential AI safety legislation in the coming year.

• The governor’s office aims to send another AI safety bill to Newsom’s desk next year, based on the panel’s findings and recommendations.
• Senator Wiener remains committed to being part of the process and advocating for diverse perspectives in the working group.

Broader implications for AI governance: California’s approach to AI regulation could have far-reaching effects on the industry and set precedents for other states and countries.

• As a hub of AI innovation, California’s regulatory decisions may significantly impact the development and deployment of AI technologies globally.
• The state’s efforts to balance innovation with safety concerns reflect the broader challenges faced by policymakers in governing rapidly evolving AI technologies.
• The outcome of this expert panel and subsequent legislation could influence how other jurisdictions approach AI regulation in the future.