SIIA and Industry Leaders Urge Governor Newsom to Veto SB 1047

The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) joined other organizations in urging Governor Gavin Newsom to veto SB 1047, the Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial Intelligence Models Act. They argue that while the bill aims to enhance AI safety, it would instead stifle innovation, harm California’s economy, and weaken U.S. national security. The organizations believe that the bill’s requirements are unrealistic, placing undue responsibility on AI developers to predict and mitigate every possible misuse of their models, which could hinder the development of adaptable AI tools that are crucial for both the state’s consumers and economy. The letter emphasizes that AI safety is a priority, but it argues that this should be addressed through coordinated federal efforts rather than state-level legislation like SB 1047. The signatories advocate for leveraging the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) and its AI Safety Institute to create consistent, nationwide standards without disrupting innovation. They warn that passing SB 1047 could drive innovators out of California and compromise the state’s leadership in technology, ultimately leading to broader negative impacts on the U.S. AI industry.