Illinois AI Safety Act: Regulating Advanced AI Systems

Illinois lawmakers are debating new safeguards for advanced artificial intelligence systems. This legislation aims to address concerns that AI technology could outpace government oversight. The proposed Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act, Senate Bill 315, would require large developers of advanced AI systems to publish safety protocols and report critical incidents. These systems would also undergo independent third-party audits to evaluate catastrophic risks. Scott Weiser of the Secure AI Project calls setting "rules of the road" for AI one of the most important issues lawmakers can tackle this session. The bill targets large-scale AI systems that could pose "catastrophic risk," such as cyberattacks or threats to infrastructure. Some supporters argue Illinois needs to establish stricter guardrails because Congress has not yet adopted nationwide AI safety standards. Industry groups generally agree with the bill's goals but question the audit requirements, stating that no formal infrastructure exists for certifying independent AI auditors. Representative Bob Morgan questioned the opposition to independent verification. Supporters point out that similar transparency discussions are happening in states like California and New York. One witness warned that advanced AI systems are already capable of assisting inexperienced users in creating biological weapons. Another opponent argued the bill requires companies to.