The artificial intelligence startup OpenAI, which is behind the ChatGPT chatbot, reportedly supports a new bill that proposes labeling content generated with AI.
OpenAI chief strategy officer Jason Kwon has expressed support for the bill AB 3211, which would require watermarks in the metadata of AI-generated photos, videos and audio clips, Reuters reported on Aug. 26.
According to the source, Kwon believes that marking AI-made material will help users differentiate such content from human-made content. The report noted that the enforcement of the bill would particularly be helpful amid growing misinformation about political candidates.
Kwon stated:
“New technology and standards can help people understand the origin of content they find online, and avoid confusion between human-generated and photorealistic AI-generated content.”
Other backers of AB 3211 reportedly include Microsoft and Adobe.
OpenAI previously opposed another AI-related bill
The new reports indicate that OpenAI has voiced support for California’s AB 3211 AI bill, which follows the company's previous opposition to another AI-related bill, SB 1047.
Introduced on Feb. 7, SB 1047 would mandate that AI developers conduct safety testing on some of their own models. It was proposed by California State Senator Scott Wiener and co-authored by senators Richard Roth, Susan Rubio and Henry Stern.
On the other hand, AB 3211— introduced by California State Assemblymember Buffy Wicks on Feb. 16 — is focused on requiring labeling of AI-generated content.
In another letter to Wiener and California Governor Gavin Newsom on Aug. 21, OpenAI’s Kwon warned about the possible negative implications of SB 1047. He argued that SB 1047 would stifle innovation and called on the United States to provide clarity for AI developers while preserving public safety.
OpenAI chief strategy officer Jason Kwon. Source: ET Edge Insights
“SB 1047 would threaten that growth, slow the pace of innovation, and lead California’s world-class engineers and entrepreneurs to leave the state in search of greater opportunity elsewhere,” Kwon wrote in a letter on Aug. 21.
California attempted to introduce 65 bills on AI regulation in 2024
The bills SB 1047 and AB 3211 are just two of many legal initiatives in California aiming to address AI regulation.
According to Reuters, California state lawmakers attempted to introduce 65 bills touching on AI this legislative season. Some of those initiatives include measures to ensure that all algorithmic decisions are proven unbiased and protect the intellectual property of deceased individuals from exploitation by AI companies.
According to the records from the nonprofit news organization CalMatters, AB 3211 passed the second reading on Aug. 26 and is now ordered to the third reading. If it passes by the end of the legislative session on Aug. 31, it would advance to Governor Newsom to sign or veto by Sept. 30.
AB 3211 bill status. Source: CalMatters
Cointelegraph approached OpenAI for a comment regarding AB 3211 but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
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