California Gov. Gavin Newsom told the state government to develop guidelines with the aim of increasing its use of new “generative” artificial-intelligence tech, signaling the country’s most populous state intends to set the norms for how governments use AI.
The executive order, announced Wednesday, tells state agencies to create risk assessment reports for how AI could affect their work and the state’s economy and energy usage, and set rules for making sure the AI tools the state buys are developed and used ethically. The order also urges legislators to devise new policies and regulations for the tech. The order doesn’t specifically spell out any new spending or regulations.
“We recognize both the potential benefits and risks these tools enable. We’re neither frozen by the fears nor hypnotized by the upside,” Newsom (D) said in the order.
The advent of generative AI, which includes chatbots such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard, has triggered concern that the technology could replace jobs, leading governments around the world to scramble to understand AI tools and respond. Prominent AI companies say they welcome regulation but have also lobbied against some approaches, saying strict laws could stifle the tech’s development. There are also signs that consumer usage of generative AI tools is slowing, raising questions of how long the boom will last.
California, one of the world’s largest employers, could also be a major source of revenue for large and small AI companies that are beginning to look for ways to monetize chatbots, image generators and other new AI tools.
