Democratic state Sen. Andrew Gounardes, a proponent of New York's ground-breaking legislation on artificial intelligence control, reiterates the need for strict regulatory measures as AI industry leaders start to voice concerns about the technology's risks. The RAISE Act, championed by Gounardes, is set to be enforced starting January, mandating major AI firms to report safety incidents and imposing penalties for non-compliance.

"I'm very rarely one to say, ‘I told you so’ or ‘We told you so,’ but this is precisely what we had warned about," Gounardes said during a Playbook interview. The senator highlighted that the same AI executives who initially dismissed the state's concerns are now acknowledging the potential dangers associated with AI technologies, including catastrophic harms akin to biological and nuclear weapons.

Despite dismissals from figures like former President Donald Trump, who labeled AI safety concerns as a "HOAX," and a lack of movement from Congress, state lawmakers are taking action. California Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed a special session on AI, and New York’s legislative bodies are set to deliberate further when they reconvene in January.

Gounardes is currently backing two pieces of legislation aimed at enhancing AI safety protocols. One bill demands third-party safety audits, and another strengthens existing safety reporting requirements. "They're good bills, they're important bills, they should pass as is. But I think we can go further," he asserted.

Moreover, Gov. Kathy Hochul has expressed her intent to push for more comprehensive measures to mitigate AI-related risks. State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, leading the Internet and Technology committee, plans to introduce a "rights-based" framework to address high-risk AI applications across various sectors, including employment and finance. Her proposed New York AI Act would also offer whistleblower protections to encourage reporting of safety risks or legal violations by AI company employees.

On the legislative front, Gonzalez has a pending bill with Gov. Hochul that would regulate AI-driven chatbots and define company liabilities. "There are so many bills, and together, if we were to pass all of these that track out liability, we would be able to actually start fighting these companies, not just through slowing their development ... but also mitigating more in court and having a foundation to claim damages," Gonzalez explained.

This legislative push in New York reflects a growing recognition of the need for robust regulatory frameworks to ensure AI technology develops in a safe and ethical manner, safeguarding public interests and societal norms.