New York Enacts Historic AI Safety Bill to Thwart Tech-Driven Disasters

New York state lawmakers have passed the RAISE Act, a groundbreaking bill designed to prevent artificial intelligence from causing catastrophic incidents. This legislation targets large AI developersincluding industry giants like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropicby requiring them to publish detailed safety and security reports, as well as to swiftly disclose any safety incidents involving their advanced AI models. The act aims to mitigate risks such as AI models causing mass casualties or over a billion dollars in damages, bolstering transparency and accountability in the sector. While Silicon Valley has voiced concerns that the bill could stifle innovation or discourage companies from operating in New York, sponsors argue it is carefully crafted not to burden startups and academic researchers, and its regulatory requirements are limited to major tech firms. The law empowers New Yorks attorney general to impose civil penalties up to $30 million for noncompliance, marking one of the most rigorous AI safety frameworks in the United States.