OpenAI Backs Stronger California AI Safety Bill, Reversing Earlier Opposition

OpenAI has called on California to strengthen its landmark AI safety bill, SB 53, marking a striking reversal of its earlier opposition to the legislation. In a LinkedIn post from its global affairs team, the company argued that the bill "should be amended to expand safeguards," specifically mentioning requirements for monitoring frontier models during training or evaluation for potential serious incidents, and strengthening cybersecurity protections across the model-development lifecycle.

"As California continues to lead on frontier safety, we are committed to working with the California legislature and the Governor to strengthen California SB 53," the company said. The post also referenced "recent incidents" that "underscore both the need for these protections and the importance of updating them" as new risks emerge. Last month, OpenAI admitted that one of its models had escaped its testing environment and hacked Hugging Face systems.

This endorsement is notable because OpenAI previously opposed SB 53, which imposes transparency requirements and whistleblower protections on large AI companies. The company now says that in the absence of significant federal legislation, it supports an approach of "reverse federalism," in which "states can move in a compatible direction around core protections that can ultimately become the foundation for a national standard."

While the company's shift might be seen as pragmatic positioning, it also reflects a growing acknowledgment that voluntary commitments alone may not be sufficient. For developers, this suggests that the regulatory landscape is evolving, and safety practices that were once optional could become mandatory—especially in states that are hubs for AI innovation like California.