In a move to regulate AI technology and prevent potential catastrophes, New York state lawmakers have passed the Responsible AI Safety and Education (RAISE) Act. The legislation, which now awaits Governor Kathy Hochul's decision, would impose new safety requirements on developers of advanced AI models, mandating comprehensive safety plans and the reporting of significant security incidents. According to TechCrunch, these measures aim to prevent harms that could result in 100 or more injuries or deaths or cause over $1 billion in damages.
Despite this effort to prioritize safety in the field of AI, the RAISE Act faces opposition from tech companies and industry trade groups who argue that such regulation might stifle innovation; Tech:NYC, which includes members like Google and Meta, is among the opponents urging Governor Hochul to reconsider her support of the bill, pointing out their preference for national standards over state regulation. "We want to be doing all we can to incentivize the development of smart, responsible AI here in New York state, and I am fundamentally concerned that the passage of this bill would push us the other way," said Julie Samuels, CEO of Tech:NYC, warning that the bill could negatively impact the development of AI technologies within the state, as reported by Gothamist.
The RAISE Act calls for transparency from large AI labs, requiring them to publish safety and security reports on their AI models, a provision supported by prominent AI safety advocates such as Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton and AI research pioneer Yoshua Bengio. State Senator Andrew Gounardes, a co-sponsor of the RAISE Act, told TechCrunch, "The window to put in place guardrails is rapidly shrinking given how fast this technology is evolving," underlining the urgency to establish these regulations.
Amid contentious debate, lawmakers like Assemblymember Alex Bores maintain that the RAISE Act would not inhibit innovation, stating, "The NY RAISE Act is yet another stupid, stupid state level AI bill that will only hurt the US at a time when our adversaries are racing ahead," said Andreessen Horowitz general partner Anjney Midha. Bores emphasized to TechCrunch that the regulatory burden is light and should not deter tech companies from operating in New York, explaining the state's significant economic stature makes it unwise for companies to avoid compliance.
While Governor Hochul has yet to signal her final intentions, the impending Senate vote on federal AI regulation and the House's push for a moratorium on state regulations could override New York's legislative efforts. However, the potential impact on the safety and development of AI remains a crucial consideration for both the state and the potentially affected tech industry players.
