California’s Narrow AI Safety Bill SB 53 Targets Big Tech Companies: A Potential Check on Tech Power Holds Promise for State-Level Legislation
The California State Senate has given final approval to a new AI safety bill, SB 53, sending it to Governor Gavin Newsom for his consideration. If signed into law, the bill will regulate big tech companies with over $500 million in annual revenue from their AI models.
In contrast to last year’s vetoed bill, SB 53 focuses on large AI firms and mandates safety reports publication, incident reporting to the government, and an employee-reporting channel for concerns without company retaliation. The bill aims to provide a significant check on tech companies’ power, which has been largely unchecked for decades.
During a recent discussion on TechCrunch’s podcast Equity, my colleagues Max Zeff and Kirsten Korosec discussed the significance of this state-level legislation. Max emphasized that SB 53 offers meaningful regulations for AI labs and could set a crucial precedent given California’s status as a hub for AI activity and home to most major AI companies.
Kirsten raised questions about the potential exceptions and carve-outs in the bill, while Max explained that the main exception concerns small startups and aims to target large firms like OpenAI and Google DeepMind. The bill also allows for less extensive safety information sharing from smaller startups compared to larger companies.
Anthony added that the broader landscape of AI regulation has seen a shift with the new administration taking a stance against regulation, potentially threatening state-level legislation like SB 53. However, no federal regulations restricting state AI regulation have passed so far. The bill could become another battleground between the Trump administration and blue states in future legislative efforts.
Equity, TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, is produced by Theresa Loconsolo and airs every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to Equity on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, and all cast platforms. You can also follow Equity on X and Threads @EquityPod.
