Joseph Gordon-Levitt Criticizes Gavin Newsom Over AI Regulation Veto

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has publicly criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom for vetoing a bill aimed at regulating artificial intelligence (AI), especially concerning its impact on children. On Monday, Newsom rejected legislation that would have prohibited companies from providing AI chatbots to individuals under 18 unless they could ensure these technologies would not engage in sexual conversations or promote self-harm, as reported by the Associated Press.

The governor justified his decision by stating that the bill contained “broad restrictions” that could inadvertently lead to a complete ban on AI products for minors. Instead, Newsom signed a separate law requiring platforms to remind users that they are interacting with chatbots and to implement measures to prevent self-harm content.

In response to the veto, Gordon-Levitt took to social media on Wednesday, accusing Newsom of being “too scared” to support the proposed regulations. He stated that the legislation he signed does not adequately protect children from “predatory AI companions,” and criticized it for containing “loopholes and legal language” that benefit large tech companies.

“While he signed this do-nothing bill, he vetoed a good bill that really would have held Big Tech’s feet to the fire,” the Emmy-winning actor said in a video. Gordon-Levitt also suggested that Newsom’s hesitance to sign the original bill might be linked to substantial financial contributions from major tech companies like Google and Meta. He pointed out that these companies launched significant political action committees (PACs) worth hundreds of millions of dollars aimed at opposing candidates who advocate for stricter AI regulations.

Reflecting on his views about the governor, Gordon-Levitt acknowledged Newsom’s effectiveness in other areas, particularly in confronting the rise of authoritarianism. Nevertheless, he expressed concern that the algorithms driving social media and AI technologies are central to this issue, stating, “the rise of authoritarianism here and all over the world originates in large part with these algorithms.”

The actor’s comments came shortly after Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, announced that the company would soon permit users to access erotica through ChatGPT, highlighting the need for age-gating in AI interactions.

Gordon-Levitt has been vocal about his concerns regarding AI previously. In an op-ed published by The Hollywood Reporter in July, he criticized “big AI companies” for their “unethical business practices,” particularly their treatment of creatives. He argued that these companies benefit from content generated by human creators without offering appropriate compensation.

“The truth is that today’s GenAI couldn’t generate anything at all without its ‘training data’,” he stated, stressing the importance of protecting human ingenuity in the face of advancing technology. Gordon-Levitt concluded by asserting that laws should not prioritize algorithmic data processing over the rights of individuals who create original content.

As discussions surrounding AI regulation continue, the diverging views of public figures like Gordon-Levitt and Newsom highlight the complexities and challenges associated with balancing innovation and ethical responsibility in the digital age.