Tech Giants and Universities Join Forces to Defang New York’s AI Safety Bill
AI Policy
New York
RAISE Act
Tech Companies
OpenAI
AI Safety
Regulation
8
Shifting Sands
Media Hype
7/10
Real Impact
8/10
What is the Viqus Verdict?
We evaluate each news story based on its real impact versus its media hype to offer a clear and objective perspective.
AI Analysis:
While the RAISE Act's initial impact is limited, the level of industry engagement and subsequent alterations indicate a fundamental shift in the landscape of AI policy, representing a significant influence beyond simply ‘hype’ – a long-term trend is beginning to solidify.
Article Summary
New York’s landmark AI safety bill, the RAISE Act, aimed to regulate the development and deployment of large AI models, requiring companies like OpenAI and Anthropic to outline safety plans and transparency rules. However, a group including Big Tech players and several universities actively campaigned against the bill, spending an estimated $17-25,000 on an ad campaign that reached over two million people. The AI Alliance, a key player in the opposition, successfully persuaded Governor Kathy Hochul to significantly alter the bill, removing a critical clause defining ‘critical harm’ and reducing penalties for safety incidents. This shift reflects a growing trend of tech companies and academic institutions leveraging their influence to shape AI policy, highlighting potential concerns about industry shaping regulations.Key Points
- The RAISE Act aimed to regulate large AI models with safety requirements and transparency rules.
- A coalition of tech companies and universities, led by the AI Alliance, actively campaigned against the bill, successfully altering its key provisions.
- The altered bill removed a critical clause defining ‘critical harm,’ reducing penalties and significantly weakening the original legislation’s impact.