OpenAI supports California AI bill requiring 'watermarking' of synthetic content

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses a California bill, AB 3211, that would require tech companies to label AI-generated content. The bill is supported by OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, as a way to increase transparency and help people distinguish between human-generated and AI-generated content, especially in the context of the upcoming elections. The article also mentions another California AI bill, SB 1047, which has faced backlash from the tech industry, including OpenAI.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The California Bill AB 3211

1. What does the California bill AB 3211 aim to do?

• The bill would require tech companies to label AI-generated content, which can range from harmless memes to deepfakes aimed at spreading misinformation about political candidates.

2. Why does OpenAI support this bill?

• OpenAI believes that for AI-generated content, transparency and requirements around provenance such as watermarking are important, especially in an election year.
• OpenAI's Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon stated that "New technology and standards can help people understand the origin of content they find online, and avoid confusion between human-generated and photorealistic AI-generated content."

3. What is the current status of the bill?

• The bill has already passed the state Assembly by a 62-0 vote and the senate appropriations committee.
• If it passes by the end of the legislative session on Aug. 31, it would advance to Governor Gavin Newsom to sign or veto by Sept. 30.

[02] The Other California AI Bill SB 1047

1. What does the California bill SB 1047 aim to do?

• The bill mandates that AI developers conduct safety testing on some of their own models.

2. How has the tech industry, including OpenAI, responded to this bill?

• The bill has faced a backlash from the tech industry, including OpenAI, which has Microsoft as a backer.

[03] The Broader Context of AI Regulation in California

1. What other AI-related bills has California attempted to introduce?

• According to the article, California state lawmakers attempted to introduce 65 bills touching on AI this legislative season, including measures to ensure all algorithmic decisions are proven unbiased and protect the intellectual property of deceased individuals from exploitation by AI companies.
• Many of these bills are already dead.

2. Why are experts concerned about the role of AI-generated content in upcoming elections?

• With countries representing a third of the world's population having polls this year, experts are concerned about the role AI-generated content will play, and it has already been prominent in some elections, such as in Indonesia.