California Gov. Newsom Rejects AI Safety Bill After Big Tech Voice Concerns

California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a controversial AI safety bill, citing concerns from the tech industry about potential hindrances to innovation. Newsom argued the bill’s stringent standards could be applied too broadly, affecting even low-risk AI systems. He called for a science-based approach to AI regulation and ordered state agencies to assess risks from catastrophic AI events. The bill faced strong opposition from major AI developers like Google, Microsoft, and Meta. Proponents, including Elon Musk and Amazon-backed Anthropic, supported the need for regulation but raised concerns about specific provisions.