Committee to back political pro-industry candidates
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Mark Zuckerberg. Image: Facebook
Meta, one of the world’s largest technology companies, is setting up a political action committee (PAC) in California. The PAC, called Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across California, will support candidates who advocate for less stringent regulation of artificial intelligence.
Meta says that California’s position as a hub of AI innovation is crucial for America’s economic growth and global competitiveness. According to the company, heavy-handed state regulations could hold back AI development and undermine California’s leading position.
The decision comes at a time of fierce competition between American and Chinese tech companies in the race to develop advanced AI technologies. The tech industry has long resisted far-reaching regulation.
Earlier this year, Congress proposed a federal ban. That ban would have prevented states from passing AI laws for 10 years. The proposal ultimately failed by a narrow margin.
Meta points to the many AI-related bills introduced in California this year, arguing that many of these proposals could hinder progress in this field.
For example, a new law taking effect on 1 January imposes transparency measures on developers of generative AI with a large user base. They must publish summaries of training data, offer free AI detection tools, and clearly label AI-generated content.
Business AM