The California Legislature on Monday adopted the nation’s first artificial intelligence-drafted resolution, a measure that underscores the state’s “commitment to examining and implementing specified principles related to the use of AI,” said a spokesman for state Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Solano, who wrote the draft.
“This is [a] significant step toward ensuring California is at the forefront of responsible AI deployment and use,” Dodd said in a press statement. “The principles outlined here will help protect the rights of the public while leveraging the benefits of AI. I appreciate the bipartisan support of my colleagues.”
Officially titled Senate Concurrent Resolution 17, it highlights the “significant challenges posed by the use of technology, data and automated systems, including incidents of unsafe, ineffective, or biased systems and unchecked data collection that threatens privacy and opportunities,” noted Paul Payne, Dodd’s press secretary.
At the same time, the resolution recognizes the potential benefits of AI, including “increased efficiency in agriculture and data analysis that could revolutionize industries,” he added and called the resolution “groundbreaking.”
The resolution affirms the state’s commitment to President Joe Biden’s vision for safe AI and the principles outlined in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s “Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights.” The five principles — Safe and Effective Systems; Algorithmic Discrimination Protections; Data Privacy; Notice and Explanation and Human Alternatives, Consideration and Fallback — will guide “the design, use and deployment of automated systems in California,” said Payne.
The state Assembly approved the resolution on Monday with a unanimous voice vote after being previously approved by the full Senate. It does not require Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature.
The Legislature’s action comes as regulation of AI is in its initial stages and firm rules for the technology are pending. In recent months, Capitol Hill lawmakers have held hearings and news conferences about AI. It also comes three weeks after Biden spoke at a White House news conference on artificial intelligence amid the presence of executives from companies that develop AI, among them OpenAI and Anthropic, as administration officials touted voluntary AI safety commitments by seven technology firms.
But, by some accounts, as for setting policies around the rapidly evolving technology, they likely will emerge later rather than sooner as lawmakers and experts try to protect consumers and circumscribe the risks AI poses to jobs, the spread of disinformation and domestic and national security.
Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Solano, Yolo, Napa, Sonoma, Sacramento and Contra Costa counties.
© 2023 The Reporter, Vacaville, Calif. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
