San Francisco: OpenAI, the developer behind ChatGPT, is backing a California bill that would require technology companies to label AI-generated content. This content can include anything from harmless memes to deepfakes designed to spread misinformation, particularly concerning political candidates, as reported by Reuters.
The proposed legislation, known as AB 3211, has not received as much attention as another AI-related bill in California, SB 1047. The latter requires AI developers to perform safety tests on some of their models, a proposal that has met resistance from the tech industry, including OpenAI, which counts Microsoft as a supporter.
This year, California lawmakers attempted to introduce 65 bills related to AI, as recorded in the state’s legislative database. These include measures to ensure the fairness of algorithmic decisions and to protect the intellectual property rights of deceased individuals from AI exploitation. However, many of these bills have already stalled.
OpenAI, headquartered in San Francisco, believes that transparency in AI-generated content, including watermarking, is crucial, especially during an election year. This stance was outlined in a letter to California State Assembly member Buffy Wicks, the author of AB 3211.
With elections taking place in countries representing a third of the global population this year, experts are increasingly worried about the impact of AI-generated content. This type of content has already played a significant role in recent elections, such as those in Indonesia. "New technologies and standards can help people discern the origins of online content and reduce confusion between human-generated and AI-generated material," OpenAI’s Chief Strategy Officer, Jason Kwon, stated in the letter reviewed by Reuters.
AB 3211 has already passed the California State Assembly with a unanimous vote of 62-0. It recently cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee, positioning it for a full Senate vote. If approved by August 31, it will be sent to Governor Gavin Newsom, who has until September 30 to either sign or veto the bill.