tech
Trump loses more control over AI regulation as Illinois passes landmark law
Here's why Anthropic and OpenAI are on board with Illinois safety testing.
TL;DR
- Illinois lawmakers passed SB 315, a new AI safety law, which requires large AI firms to submit public safety plans and annual reports on independent safety testing of their frontier models.
- The law also mandates reporting critical safety incidents within 72 hours, or 24 hours if there's an imminent risk of death or serious physical harm, and provides whistleblower protections.
- Both OpenAI and Anthropic, key AI firms, support the bill, viewing it as a way to establish a baseline for safety standards and avoid a patchwork of state laws.
- The law, set to take effect January 1, 2027, allows for civil penalties for violations.
- Supporters argue the law provides necessary guardrails and safeguards against catastrophic AI risks, especially given the federal government's delay in enacting similar legislation.