Nancy Pelosi issued a statement late yesterday opposing California’s SB 1047, which aims to regulate artificial intelligence. As Pelosi pointed out, many in Congress think SB 1047 has good intentions but is ill-informed. Zoe Lofgren, Anna Eshoo, and Ro Khanna have also expressed concerns about the bill, which she called “more harmful than helpful.”
Pelosi said the proposed law is well-meaning but needs more work. She thinks it could backfire and make things worse. Other politicians from California agree the bill has issues. They want a law that protects people and helps small companies, not big tech giants.
Pelosi wants California to make a law that sets a good example for the whole country and the world. She believes the current bill misses the mark and should be improved. While Congress can’t change state laws, Pelosi’s views carry weight with California elected officials.
The bill’s sponsor, State Senator Scott Wiener, disagreed with Pelosi. He highly respects her but argued the bill requires large AI developers to do basic safety testing, as promised. Wiener believes the amended bill now addresses early critics’ worries.
The bill will be voted on soon in the California Assembly. This debate shows that regulating new technologies like AI raises complex policy questions, even among those who agree on important goals like safety and ethics. Crafting effective legislation takes scrutiny and compromise from all sides.
