California lawmakers are reportedly rushing to pass roughly 50 AI-related bills as the state government tries to address growing concerns in the AI industry.
According to the Los Angeles Times, most of the proposed legislations are intended to regulate and provide human oversight on AI due to its potential impacts on the work industry, human safety, and societal discrimination.
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These include several labor union-sponsored bills aiming to require companies to provide some protection to their employees that could be affected by the increase of automation in their workplaces.
Due to its proximity to Silicon Valley companies, California currently has the most AI regulations proposed in the country as nationwide laws remain a low priority in the national government.
However, only a few have successfully pushed past the House of Representatives as AI firms and tech companies argue such regulations would stifle innovations and creativity.
Also Read: California Lawmakers Advance Proposals for AI Regulation Amid Increasing Deepfake Issues
California Legislators Still Welcome AI Innovations
Despite the wave of AI-related regulations California is trying to pass, the state still intends to use current technological innovations in an attempt to address longstanding issues in the state.
Among the proposed applications of generative AI is its integration into traffic management operations to reduce road congestion and improve customer services in critical chokepoints.
The state is currently partnered with several tech firms, including OpenAI and Anthropic, to form new AI models that would help California enforce better road safety guidelines.
Related Article: California Looks into Generative AI to Solve Traffic Congestions
US AI Regulation Law Receives Pushback from Tech Companies
State legislations are not the only proposed AI regulations currently facing headwinds amid the government's efforts to manage emerging risks from the tech industry.
Just last year, Capitol Hill recorded a 120% increase in clients lobbying for AI-related issues, going from 272 filings in 2022 to 566 within 12 months.
This is in addition to strong opposition to the executive order mandating several departments and agencies to formulate potential provisions for the planned regulatory law for AI.
