Senator Scott Wiener introduced Senate Bill 1047, titled 'Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial Intelligence Models,' which has drawn significant attention, including an opposing letter from OpenAI dated August 21.

These employees, along with colleagues from Meta, Google DeepMind, Anthropic, and xAI, signed an open letter supporting SB 1047, which would hold AI developers accountable for catastrophic harm if they fail to implement adequate safety measures.

The bill has garnered mixed reactions from prominent figures in the tech industry, with supporters like Elon Musk and opponents including Nancy Pelosi and San Francisco's Mayor.

As the debate continues, Governor Gavin Newsom faces a deadline of September 30 to either sign or veto SB 1047, a bill that has polarized opinions within the tech industry.

In contrast, OpenAI's chief strategy officer, Jason Kwon, argued that AI regulation should be handled at the federal level rather than through state legislation.

The letter from OpenAI employees underscores the severe risks associated with powerful AI models, particularly regarding biological safety and cyber infrastructure.

In response to OpenAI's opposition, Senator Wiener suggested that the lack of congressional action on AI regulation necessitates state intervention.

The dissent from thirty-eight current and former OpenAI employees against CEO Sam Altman's stance on SB 1047 highlights a growing rift within the company regarding AI regulation.

This public dissent from OpenAI employees is particularly noteworthy given the company's history of attempting to silence internal criticism, including requiring departing employees to sign lifetime non-disparagement agreements.

Wiener clarified that SB 1047 is applicable to any company conducting business in California, addressing concerns that companies might relocate to evade compliance.

Kwon also expressed concerns that state-level competition for AI regulation could dilute expertise and fragment policy, potentially exacerbating national security risks.

The support for SB 1047 among OpenAI employees has coincided with high-profile departures from the company, including co-founder John Schulman and President Greg Brockman.