A group of over 150 parents has urged New York Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the Responsible AI Safety and Education (RAISE) Act without alterations. The RAISE Act mandates that developers of large AI models, such as Meta, OpenAI, Deepseek, and Google, establish safety plans and adhere to transparency protocols regarding safety incidents. The bill received approval from both the New York State Senate and Assembly in June.
Reports indicate that Governor Hochul may propose significant revisions to the RAISE Act, potentially making it more favorable to technology companies similar to the changes implemented in California’s SB 53 following input from major AI corporations. These companies generally oppose the legislation; the AI Alliance, which includes firms like Meta, IBM, and Intel, previously expressed “deep concern” about the act, labeling it “unworkable.” Additionally, Leading the Future, a pro-AI super PAC supported by various influential tech figures, has targeted Assemblymember Alex Bores, a co-sponsor of the act, with advertisements.
The letter addressed to Governor Hochul was organized by ParentsTogether Action and the Tech Oversight Project. It mentions that some signatories have experienced personal losses due to the negative impacts of AI chatbots and social media. The parents described the current version of the RAISE Act as providing “minimalist guardrails” and emphasized its necessity.
While the bill specifically regulates larger AI companies capable of spending substantial amounts on development, it requires them to report significant safety incidents to the attorney general and publish safety strategies. Developers must also refrain from releasing frontier models if such actions could pose serious risks, defined in terms of potential casualties or extensive financial harm. The letter underscores familiar concerns about the tech industry’s resistance to transparency, pointing to documented negative effects on young people’s mental health and well-being related to these technologies.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/844062/parents-call-for-new-york-governor-to-sign-landmark-ai-safety-bill