Newsom signs California bill regulating AI companies into law

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act, otherwise known as SB 53, into law Monday afternoon.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act, otherwise known as SB 53, into law Monday afternoon.

The bill, the first of its kind in the United States, places new AI-specific regulations on the top players in the industry, requiring them to fulfill transparency requirements and report AI-related safety incidents.

Though several states have recently passed laws regulating aspects of AI, SB 53 is the first to explicitly focus on the safety of cutting-edge and powerful AI models.

In a statement, Newsom said: “California has proven that we can establish regulations to protect our communities while also ensuring that the growing AI industry continues to thrive. This legislation strikes that balance.”

The law is likely to have worldwide ramifications, as 32 of the world’s top 50 AI companies are based in California. In a signing message to the state Senate, Newsom wrote that California’s “status as a global leader in technology allows us a unique opportunity to provide a blueprint for well-balanced AI policies beyond our borders–especially in the absence of a comprehensive federal AI policy framework.”