OpenAI, Adobe, Microsoft, and Elon Musk Support Different California AI Bills

Microsoft, Open AI, Abode, and businessman Elon Musk have recently supported new California bills regarding artificial intelligence, but not all the same ones.

According to TechCrunch, OpenAI, Microsoft, and Adobe have shared letters agreeing with the bill AB 3211 which requires businesses to label AI-generated content. Elon Musk, on the other hand, has supported bill SB 1047, which focuses on AI safety and requires businesses to document and create safeguards.

Both bills will receive a final vote by the end of the month and will affect most AI companies. However, SB 1047, recently amended to comply with certain companies’ requirements, has been the most controversial bill.

Elon Musk shared a public post on X, supporting the safety measures on SB 1047. “This is a tough call and will make some people upset, but, all things considered, I think California should probably pass the SB 1047 AI safety bill,” wrote Musk, “For over 20 years, I have been an advocate for AI regulation, just as we regulate any product/technology that is a potential risk to the public.”

Musk’s statements surprised many in the industry, as his companies could be subject to the new requirements and measures of SB 1047. Other tech giants like OpenAI, Google, and Meta have opposed this bill.

OpenAI and Microsoft could support bill AB 3211, which was also amended to align more with these companies’ requirements, to encourage lawmakers to approve this bill instead of SB 1047.

Bill AB 3211 requires watermarks in metadata—many companies are already complying as it is also invisible—on AI-generated images, audio clips, and videos, and online platforms to display a visible watermark for users to recognize AI-generated content as well.

The SB 1047 bill, on the other hand, includes sanctions on companies if their technologies cause major harm to society. Last week, OpenAI said this bill “makes no sense” and has stopped expanding its office in San Francisco.