Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed the Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act on Monday, making it the first state to require third-party safety audits for large-scale AI models. The bipartisan legislation applies to AI developers with over $500 million in revenue, including companies like Anthropic and OpenAI, and mandates annual independent inspections of AI systems.
Core Facts:
- Mandate: The law requires AI companies to disclose and mitigate risks, submit to annual audits, and report safety incidents within 72 hours (or 24 hours for imminent threats).
- Scope: It applies to "large frontier developers"—companies with high-compute AI models and significant revenue.
Deeper Context:
Policy Framework: Illinois modeled the law after similar regulations in California and New York but added the requirement for third-party audits. The law also includes protections for employees reporting safety concerns.
Industry Response: Anthropic and OpenAI endorsed the bill before its passage, while supporters like Encode AI’s Sunny Gandhi called it the "strongest AI safety law in the country."
Governor’s Stance: Pritzker framed the law as a response to federal inaction, stating that states must protect citizens from AI risks while fostering innovation.
Effective Date: The law takes effect on January 1, 2027.
Opposing Views:
- Proponents argue the law sets a national standard for AI safety, ensuring transparency and accountability.
- Critics (not explicitly stated in sources) might raise concerns about regulatory burdens or overreach, though no direct opposition is cited in the articles.