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Scott Wiener on his fight to make Big Tech disclose AI’s dangers
California Senator Scott Wiener is advocating for AI safety with SB 53, a bill that requires major tech companies to disclose risks associated with their AI systems. Following the resistance faced by his previous proposal, SB 1047, this new bill has garnered more support from the tech industry. SB 53 mandates safety reporting for companies making over $500 million, stresses transparency, and proposes protected channels for reporting concerns.
Key points
- SB 1047 was vetoed by Governor Newsom in 2024 due to concerns it could hinder innovation.
- Wiener's new bill SB 53 is now on Newsom's desk and has broader industry support, including from Anthropic and Meta.
- SB 53 mandates AI companies earning over $500 million to disclose safety reports on their AI systems.
- The focus of SB 53 is on severe risks from AI, including potential for human harm and cyberattacks, while avoiding making companies directly liable.
- The bill creates safe reporting channels for AI lab employees and includes a state-run cloud resource, CalCompute.
- The tech industry generally prefers federal AI regulation, but Wiener argues for state-level initiatives in absence of federal action.
Why it matters
- The growing concern over AI safety parallels the surge in AI applications and discussions about ethical AI since 2020.
- In 2025, notable trends include the push for transparency and accountability in AI, reflecting increasing governmental scrutiny.
- Federal regulation debates heated up with the Biden administration's focus on safety compared to earlier Trump-era policies prioritizing growth.
Senator Wiener's push for SB 53 illustrates the challenge of balancing AI innovation with public safety, reflecting a broader societal need for accountability in the tech industry as AI continues to evolve.