California AI bill is amended; vote is expected by end of August

California lawmakers have amended a bill that would create new restrictions for artificial intelligence, paving the way for first-of-their-kind safety rules that could set new standards for how tech companies develop their systems.

The State Assembly’s Appropriations Committee voted Thursday to endorse an amended version of the bill, SB 1047, which would require companies to test the safety of powerful AI technologies before releasing them to the public. California’s attorney general would be able to sue companies if their technologies caused serious harm, such as mass property damage or human casualties.