California becomes a pioneer in AI regulation

California wants to regulate Artificial Intelligence more strongly in the future. The democratic governor of the US state, Gavin Newsom, signed a corresponding decree on Monday. The California government is thus opposing Trump's demand to deregulate the AI industry as much as possible.

According to the decree, California authorities have around four months to present recommendations for AI guidelines. The aim of the new standards for AI companies is to prioritize public safety and protect the rights and privacy of citizens.

Preventing AI misuse

California is considered the global center of AI innovation. 33 of the world's 50 leading AI companies are based in the US state. Newsom's decree now affects those AI companies that have business relationships with the state of California.

In the future, they will have to prove that they have guidelines and security measures in place to prevent misuse of their technologies. The decree explicitly mentions the dissemination of illegal content, such as non-consensual intimate recordings or depictions of child abuse. In addition, AI companies will have to explain how they reduce the bias of their AI models. They will also be obliged to develop guidelines that protect civil rights and prevent “unlawful discrimination, detention, and surveillance.”

The decree also stipulates that the state of California will develop procedures for clearly identifying AI-generated or AI-processed images and videos.

Clear signal to Trump

The current decree by California Governor Newsom clearly contradicts Trump's intentions. The US President actually wants to prevent the regulation of AI applications at the state level. Just last December, Trump issued a decree in which he formulated a national political framework for dealing with Artificial Intelligence.

“To be successful, American AI companies must have the freedom to innovate without burdensome regulations,” Trump's decree states. Excessive state regulation stands in the way of this imperative.

Trump's decree from last December also instructed the Department of Justice to establish a “Task Force on AI Litigation.” The task force, which has existed since January, is intended to challenge regulatory efforts by US states in the field of AI.

(rah)