Editorial illustration for OpenAI and Anthropic Back State AI Transparency Bill Amid Growing Regulatory Push
AI Giants Back California's Landmark Transparency Bill
OpenAI, Anthropic Support AI Transparency Bill as States Adopt Frameworks
The AI industry's regulatory landscape is shifting rapidly, with tech giants now strategically positioning themselves in state-level policy debates. California has become a critical battleground for AI transparency legislation, drawing unexpected support from major artificial intelligence companies.
OpenAI and Anthropic are signaling a nuanced approach to potential regulation, backing a state transparency bill while simultaneously advocating for broader federal standards. Their support suggests a calculated move to shape policy rather than resist it outright.
But the legislative push isn't without internal tech industry tension. Some powerful players are mounting active resistance, creating a complex political dynamic that could determine how AI technologies are governed in the coming years.
The bill represents more than just local legislation. It could potentially set precedents for how emerging AI technologies will be monitored, regulated, and developed across the United States.
With significant players like Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI's leadership entering the fray, the stakes are high. The emerging battle reveals deep philosophical divisions about AI's future and who gets to define its boundaries.
OpenAI and Anthropic backed the bill while urging federal standards, with Anthropic noting that two major states now have AI transparency frameworks. Some tech figures are actively opposing the measure: a super PAC backed by Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI president Greg Brockman is targeting Assemblyman Alex Bores, a co-sponsor alongside Senator Andrew Gounardes, who called the law the "strongest AI safety law in the country." The law explicitly references California's approach as a benchmark. Amazon's AI assistant comes to the web with Alexa.com Amazon launched Alexa.com to bring its overhauled AI assistant, Alexa+, to the web for Early Access users, complementing its presence on Echo devices and the updated Alexa mobile app.
The site offers a chatbot-style interface for tasks like exploring complex topics, content creation, and trip planning, while emphasizing household workflows: smart home control, calendar and to-do updates, dinner reservations, grocery additions to Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods, recipe discovery and walkthroughs, and personalized movie-night recommendations. Alexa+ is also adding service integrations including Angi, Expedia, Square, and Yelp, alongside existing partners like Fodor's, OpenTable, Suno, Ticketmaster, Thumbtack, and Uber. Other News Tools Z.AI launches GLM-4.7, new SOTA open-source model for coding.
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The emerging battle over AI transparency reveals a complex regulatory landscape where even prominent tech companies disagree. OpenAI and Anthropic have surprisingly supported a state-level bill, signaling potential shifts in how AI companies approach oversight.
The legislation, championed by Senator Andrew Gounardes, aims to establish what he calls the "strongest AI safety law in the country." But not everyone in tech agrees. A super PAC connected to Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI's president is actively working against the bill's co-sponsors.
Interestingly, the proposed law references California's existing framework, suggesting a growing trend of state-level AI regulation. Both OpenAI and Anthropic seem to recognize this momentum, backing the bill while simultaneously pushing for federal standards.
The political tensions are clear. Some tech leaders are resisting regulatory efforts, targeting lawmakers like Assemblyman Alex Bores who are trying to introduce more transparency. Yet other AI companies appear willing to engage with potential oversight.
This dynamic suggests the AI industry is far from unified on regulation. State-by-state approaches might become the new norm as federal guidelines remain uncertain.
Further Reading
- Hochul enacts New York's AI safety and transparency bill - IAPP
- What is California's AI safety law? - Brookings Institution
- xAI's Challenge to California's AI Training Data Transparency Law (AB2013) - Law-AI.org
- AI's New Test on California's Direct Democracy - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
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Common Questions Answered
Why are OpenAI and Anthropic supporting California's AI transparency bill?
OpenAI and Anthropic are backing the state-level transparency bill as part of a strategic approach to AI regulation, signaling their willingness to engage with potential oversight mechanisms. Their support suggests a nuanced stance that seeks to balance innovation with responsible AI development at the state level.
What opposition does the AI transparency bill face in California?
A super PAC backed by Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI president Greg Brockman is actively targeting Assemblyman Alex Bores, one of the bill's co-sponsors. This opposition indicates significant tension within the tech industry about the proposed AI transparency legislation.
How do OpenAI and Anthropic view federal versus state-level AI regulation?
While supporting the California state transparency bill, both companies are simultaneously advocating for broader federal AI standards. This approach suggests they prefer a comprehensive regulatory framework that goes beyond individual state-level initiatives.