Previously, no independent body was required to keep an AI lab accountable to its own safety claims.

Topic: politicsRegion: north americaUpdated: i2 outletsSources: 4Spectrum: Center Only⏱ 2 min read📡 Wire pickup⚠ 3d+ old

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Story Summary

SITUATION

On May 28, 2026, the Illinois House of Representatives passed a landmark bill aimed at enhancing safety measures for artificial intelligence. This legislation, known as SB 315, requires leading AI laboratories such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind to undergo independent third-party audits of their safety practices.

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Spectrum: Center Only🌍Other: 3 · US: 1

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KEY FACTS

If signed into law, AI safety experts tell WIRED, it would be the nation’s leading check on the power of major AI companies.
The Illinois House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday requiring frontier AI labs like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind to have their safety practices audited by a third party.
In a post on social media on Wednesday, Pritzker said he plans to sign the bill, citing a need to hold Big Tech accountable.
As a result, safety advocates and tech companies have zeroed in on state legislatures as the primary battleground to hash out how these laws should look.
Illinois’ bill goes a step further, requiring independent auditors to verify that an AI lab is adhering to its own safety standards.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

This development falls within the broader context of Politics activity in North America. Current reporting indicates: If signed into law, AI safety experts tell WIRED, it would be the nation’s leading check on the power of major AI companies.

The Illinois House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday requiring frontier AI labs like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind to have their safety practices audited by a third party. In a post on social media on Wednesday, Pritzker said he plans to sign the bill, citing a need to hold Big Tech accountable.

Brief

Pritzker has expressed his intention to sign the bill, highlighting the urgent need for accountability within the tech industry. This move is seen as a significant step in regulating the rapidly evolving AI sector, which has raised numerous safety concerns among experts and the public alike.

Previously, there were no requirements for independent verification of AI labs' adherence to their own safety standards, leaving a gap in oversight. The passage of this bill positions Illinois at the forefront of AI regulation in the United States, as safety advocates and tech companies increasingly look to state legislatures to define the future of AI governance.

As the debate over AI safety continues, this legislation could serve as a model for other states considering similar measures.

Sources

4 of 4 linked articles