# The battle of the AI titans: LeCun vs. Hinton on SB 1047
The AI community is currently embroiled in a heated debate over California’s proposed AI safety bill, SB 1047. This legislation, which awaits Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature, aims to establish liability for developers of large-scale AI models that cause catastrophic harm due to a failure to implement appropriate safety measures. However, the bill has sparked a clash between two AI pioneers, Yann LeCun and Geoffrey Hinton, highlighting the deep divisions within the AI community over the future of regulation.
Yann LeCun, the chief AI scientist at Meta, publicly criticized supporters of SB 1047, arguing that many of them have a distorted view of AI’s near-term capabilities. LeCun believes that their inexperience and overestimation of their employer’s lead and progress in AI contribute to this distorted view. On the other hand, Geoffrey Hinton, often referred to as the “godfather of AI,” endorsed an open letter signed by over 100 current and former employees of leading AI companies, urging Governor Newsom to sign SB 1047 into law. The letter cited severe risks posed by powerful AI models, such as expanded access to biological weapons and cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.
This public disagreement between LeCun and Hinton underscores the complexity of regulating a rapidly evolving technology like AI. Hinton, who left Google last year to speak more freely about AI risks, represents a growing contingent of researchers who believe that AI systems could soon pose existential threats to humanity. LeCun, on the other hand, consistently argues that such fears are premature and potentially harmful to open research.
# Inside SB 1047: The controversial bill reshaping AI regulation
SB 1047 has become a lightning rod for debate about AI regulation in California. Traditional political alliances have been scrambled, with supporters including Elon Musk and opponents including Nancy Pelosi and London Breed, along with several major tech companies and venture capitalists. Anthropic, an AI company that initially opposed the bill, changed its stance after several amendments were made, indicating the ongoing negotiations between lawmakers and the tech industry.
Critics of SB 1047 argue that it could stifle innovation and disadvantage smaller companies and open-source projects. Andrew Ng, founder of DeepLearning.AI, wrote in TIME magazine that the bill “makes the fundamental mistake of regulating a general-purpose technology rather than applications of that technology.” However, proponents of the bill insist that the potential risks of unregulated AI development far outweigh these concerns. They argue that the bill’s focus on models with budgets exceeding $100 million ensures that it primarily affects large, well-resourced companies capable of implementing robust safety measures.
# Silicon Valley divided: How SB 1047 is splitting the tech world
The involvement of current employees from companies opposing SB 1047 adds another layer of complexity to the debate. It suggests internal disagreements within these organizations about the appropriate balance between innovation and safety. As Governor Newsom considers whether to sign the bill, he faces a decision that could shape the future of AI development not just in California but potentially across the United States. With the European Union already moving forward with its own AI Act, California’s decision could influence whether the U.S. takes a more proactive or hands-off approach to AI regulation at the federal level.
The clash between LeCun and Hinton serves as a microcosm of the larger debate surrounding AI safety and regulation. It highlights the challenge policymakers face in crafting legislation that addresses legitimate safety concerns without unduly hampering technological progress. As the AI field continues to advance at a breakneck pace, the outcome of this legislative battle in California may set a crucial precedent for how societies grapple with the promises and perils of increasingly powerful artificial intelligence systems. The tech world, policymakers, and the public alike will be watching closely as Governor Newsom weighs his decision in the coming weeks.