SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California lawmakers approved a host of proposals this week aiming to regulate the artificial intelligence industry, combat deepfakes and protect workers from exploitation by the rapidly evolving technology.
The California Legislature, which is controlled by Democrats, is voting on hundreds of bills during its final week of the session to send to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. Their deadline is Saturday.
The Democratic governor has until Sept. 30 to sign the proposals, veto them or let them become law without his signature. Newsom signaled in July he will sign a proposal to crack down on election deepfakes but has not weighed in other legislation.
He warned earlier this summer that overregulation could hurt the homegrown industry. In recent years, he often has cited the state’s budget troubles when rejecting legislation that he would otherwise support.
Here is a look at some of the AI bills lawmakers approved this year.
Citing concerns over how AI tools are increasingly being used to trick voters and generate deepfake pornography of minors, California lawmakers approved several bills this week to crack down on the practice.
Lawmakers approved legislation to ban deepfakes related to elections and require large social media platforms to remove the deceptive material 120 days before Election Day and 60 days thereafter. Campaigns also would be required to publicly disclose if they’re running ads with materials altered by AI.
A pair of proposals would make it illegal to use AI tools to create images and videos of child sexual abuse. Current law does not allow district attorneys to go after people who possess or distribute AI-generated child sexual abuse images if they cannot prove the materials are depicting a real person.
Tech companies and social media platforms would be required to provide AI detection tools to users under another proposal.
California could become the first state in the nation to set sweeping safety measures on large AI models.
The legislation sent by lawmakers to the governor’s desk requires developers to start disclosing what data they use to train their models. The efforts aim to shed more light into how AI models work and prevent future catastrophic disasters.
Another measure would require the state to set safety protocols preventing risks and algorithmic discrimination before agencies could enter any contract involving AI models used to define decisions.
Inspired by the months-long Hollywood actors strike last year, lawmakers approved a proposal to protect workers, including voice actors and audiobook performers, from being replaced by their AI-generated clones. The measure mirrors language in the contract the SAG-AFTRA made with studios last December.
State and local agencies would be banned from using AI to replace workers at call centers under one of the proposals.
California also may create penalties for digitally cloning dead people without consent of their estates.
As corporations increasingly weave AI into Americans’ daily lives, state lawmakers also passed several bills to increase AI literacy.
One proposal would require a state working group to consider incorporating AI skills into math, science, history and social science curriculums. Another would develop guideline on how schools could use AI in the classrooms.
California lawmakers have recently passed a series of groundbreaking legislation aimed at addressing the growing concerns surrounding deepfakes, safeguarding workers, and regulating artificial intelligence (AI) technology. These new laws mark a significant step forward in protecting individuals from the potential harms of manipulated media, ensuring fair treatment for workers in the age of automation, and establishing guidelines for the responsible development and use of AI.
One of the key pieces of legislation passed by California lawmakers is a bill that bans the distribution of deepfake videos without the consent of the individuals depicted. Deepfakes are highly realistic manipulated videos that use artificial intelligence to superimpose someone’s face onto another person’s body, creating a false representation of that individual. These videos have the potential to spread misinformation, damage reputations, and even be used for malicious purposes such as revenge porn. By outlawing the dissemination of deepfakes without consent, California is taking a proactive stance in protecting individuals from the harmful effects of this technology.
In addition to addressing the issue of deepfakes, California lawmakers have also passed legislation aimed at safeguarding workers in industries that are increasingly being impacted by automation and AI. One such law requires companies to provide advance notice to employees if their jobs are at risk of being automated or outsourced. This measure is designed to give workers time to prepare for potential job loss, seek retraining opportunities, or explore alternative employment options. By enacting this law, California is taking steps to ensure that workers are not left behind in the rapidly changing landscape of the workforce.
Furthermore, California lawmakers have also introduced legislation to regulate the development and use of AI technology in order to protect individuals’ privacy and prevent discrimination. One such law requires companies to disclose when they are using AI algorithms to make decisions that could have a significant impact on individuals, such as determining credit scores or hiring decisions. This transparency requirement is intended to hold companies accountable for the ethical use of AI and ensure that individuals are not unfairly disadvantaged by automated decision-making processes.
Overall, the legislation passed by California lawmakers represents a significant milestone in addressing the complex challenges posed by deepfakes, automation, and AI technology. By taking proactive measures to ban deepfakes, safeguard workers, and regulate AI, California is setting a precedent for other states and countries to follow in order to protect individuals’ rights and promote responsible innovation in the digital age.
