PANews reported on August 27 that according to Cointelegraph, billionaire technology entrepreneur Elon Musk expressed support for a legislation that some people worry could stifle artificial intelligence innovation in the United States. On August 27, Musk posted on his social media platform X that this was "a difficult decision" that would "make some people feel uneasy," but after considering all factors, he found that "I think California should pass SB 1047 Artificial Intelligence Safety Act." Musk added that he has been advocating for artificial intelligence regulation for more than 20 years, "just as we regulate any product/technology that poses a potential risk to the public."
Democratic lawmakers introduced California's Frontier AI Model Safety Innovation Act, also known as SB 1047, in February. It would require AI developers to implement safety protocols to prevent incidents such as mass casualties or major cyberattacks, while mandating that AI models have an "emergency stop" button. Many in Silicon Valley have voiced opposition to the new legislative proposal. Other requirements of the bill include annual third-party audits of AI safety practices and the creation of a new Frontier Models Division (FMD) to oversee compliance.
Guillaume Verdon, the leader of the "e/acc" movement against big tech companies, founder of stealth AI startup Extropic and former Google engineer, responded that AI may be powerful, "but authoritarian governments with shadowy control over powerful AI are more terrifying." On August 21, Jason Kwon, chief strategy officer of OpenAI, warned that the bill could stifle innovation and force talent out of California. The bill also faces opposition from House Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi, Zoe Lofgren, senior member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, Silicon Valley Representative Ro Khanna, and venture capital and large technology giants Andreessen Horowitz and Meta.