Nancy Pelosi Calls California AI Bill 'Ill-Informed' and Critiques Its Implications for the Future of Technology

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi released a statement late yesterday, expressing her opposition to SB 1047, a California bill aimed at regulating artificial intelligence (AI).

“Many of us in Congress believe that while SB 1047 is well-intentioned, it is fundamentally misguided,” Pelosi stated. She highlighted that fellow congressmembers from the Bay Area—including Zoe Lofgren, Anna Eshoo, and Ro Khanna—share similar concerns, perceiving the bill as “more harmful than helpful.”

Recently, the bill was amended in response to critiques from various stakeholders, including the AI company Anthropic, and is now headed for a vote in California’s Assembly. Although this is a state-level bill, Pelosi's seniority and influence may resonate with California legislators, despite Congress's lack of jurisdiction. “AI originates from California,” she remarked. “We must develop legislation that sets a standard for both the nation and the globe. It is our duty to empower small entrepreneurs and academic institutions—not just big tech—to lead the way.”

In response, State Senator Scott Wiener, the bill's sponsor, conveyed his respect for Pelosi but strongly disagreed with her assessment. “The bill mandates that only the largest AI developers carry out the safety testing they have consistently promised to implement on their powerful AI models,” Wiener explained.

AI, Government & Policy