OpenAI Backs Much-Debated California Bill Requiring Labels For AI-generated Content

OpenAI has lent its support to the contested California bill positioned towards increasing transparency around artificial intelligence-generated content. The proposed legislation, AB 3211, seeks to require tech companies to clearly label content produced by AI, ranging from seemingly harmless memes to potentially misleading deepfakes designed to influence political candidates. 

The bill has gained huge attention as concerns mount over the role of AI in spreading misinformation, especially during critical election periods.

Authored by Assembly member Buffy Wicks, AB 3211 has already passed the state Assembly with a unanimous 62-0 vote and has advanced through the Senate appropriations committee. It is now poised for a full Senate vote by 31 August. 

Should it pass, it will be sent to Governor Gavin Newsom by 30 September for final approval or veto. The bill is part of a broader legislative push in California to regulate artificial intelligence, which has seen over 65 proposed bills this season addressing various aspects of AI use and ethical considerations.

In contrast, another California bill, SB 1047, has faced backlash from the tech industry, including from OpenAI and its backer Microsoft. SB 1047 would mandate safety testing for certain AI models, a move that has been contentious within the tech community.