News Summary

OpenAI is supporting a proposed Illinois state bill, SB 3444, which seeks to shield AI labs from liability when their AI models cause significant societal harm, such as mass casualties or financial disasters exceeding $1 billion in damages. The bill aims to protect AI developers from liability for ‘critical harms’ as long as they do not intentionally or recklessly cause such incidents and have published safety, security, and transparency reports. This legislative move represents a shift in OpenAI’s strategy towards supporting laws that focus on reducing serious harm from advanced AI systems while advocating for consistent national standards rather than a patchwork of state regulations. Despite this, the bill faces opposition, with a survey indicating that a significant majority of Illinois residents oppose liability exemptions for AI companies.