Garry Tan’s Concerns

Garry Tan, CEO of startup incubator Y Combinator, has voiced strong opposition to regulating artificial intelligence, despite calls from many tech leaders for such measures. Recently, he criticized state Senator Scott Wiener’s bill aimed at preventing uncontrolled AI development, claiming it would create a “chilling effect” on innovation in California.

Event at Y Combinator

Despite his reservations, Tan and Y Combinator hosted Wiener and several federal officials at their San Francisco headquarters to discuss potential regulations on AI technology. Notable attendees included U.S. Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan and U.S. Department of Justice antitrust attorney Jonathan Kanter, highlighting the national urgency surrounding AI regulation.

Debate on AI Legislation

While Tan was present during Wiener’s speech, no direct debate occurred regarding the contentious AI legislation. However, Andrew Ng, a prominent figure in AI and co-founder of Google Brain, criticized the bill, arguing that requiring AI developers to prevent misuse is akin to asking electric motor manufacturers to ensure their products aren’t used for illegal purposes.

“I would stop making electric motors,” Ng remarked.

Wiener’s Response

Senator Wiener expressed his willingness to consider amendments from the tech community, including suggestions from Anthropic, a San Francisco-based AI model developer. He acknowledged the excitement surrounding AI but emphasized the importance of addressing the inherent risks associated with powerful technologies.

Concerns Over Stifling Innovation

Startup founder Jeremy Nixon raised concerns about the potential for the bill to hinder the release of new AI models, citing similar outcomes in the European Union following regulatory impositions. Wiener responded by asserting that the bill is narrower than the EU’s AI law.

Industry Reactions

Many in the tech industry, including venture capitalists and companies like Meta, have criticized the bill, arguing it could impose undue liability on companies for third-party misuse of their technology. Entrepreneur Marc Andreessen warned that regulating open-source companies might lead to severe consequences, suggesting that the multibillion-dollar AI industry could be driven out of California.

Wiener’s Amendments

Wiener has stated that he has listened to critiques and made several amendments to the bill to prevent unfair penalties on major companies like Meta and OpenAI. He clarified that the bill targets only large AI companies and models that are not yet in existence, aiming to limit liability for significant changes made to their technology.

FTC’s Stance

During the event, FTC Chair Khan refrained from commenting directly on Wiener’s bill but emphasized the importance of maintaining openness in the AI industry, particularly given the substantial investment required to develop AI models from scratch.

(c)2024 the San Francisco Chronicle. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.