Illinois Legislature passes historic AI bill that would require third-party safety audits
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- The Illinois House passed SB 315, a pioneering AI regulation bill requiring leading AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic to publish safety plans and undergo annual independent audits, pending Gov. JB Pritzker's signature.
- The bill includes whistleblower protections and reporting processes for employees and aims to mitigate severe or catastrophic risks from AI, with strong bipartisan support in the state legislature.
- OpenAI and Anthropic have publicly endorsed the legislation, while some AI trade groups oppose it; major companies like Google, xAI, and Meta have not commented.
- Illinois lawmakers acknowledge the preference for federal AI regulation but argue that rapid AI development and congressional inaction have necessitated state-level intervention.
- The bill imposes civil penalties for violations and would take effect on January 1, positioning Illinois as the first state to mandate independent third-party AI safety audits in the U.S.