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Helen Toner says AI harm liability is worth exploring after SB 1047

The Ezra Klein Show · The A.I.s Are Already Out of Control | The Ezra Klein Show · August 18, 2026
Helen Toner says AI harm liability is worth exploring after SB 1047
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein Show
The A.I.s Are Already Out of Control | The Ezra Klein Show
""I think a natural direction for those bills to go would be to start putting a minimum bar in place for hey if your safety plan is not up to scratch or if you're implementing your safety plan but your model does something catastrophic anyway then you the AI developer are liable because as you say right now who exactly is liable for what is is very unclear.""
Helen Toner says lawmakers should explore making AI developers legally liable when their systems cause serious harm, citing California’s failed 2024 SB 1047 effort. She argues state-level bills are already pushing for more disclosure and third-party access, and could evolve towards a minimum safety standard backed by liability.
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The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein Show

The A.I.s Are Already Out of Control | The Ezra Klein Show

August 20, 2026 · 1h 10m · 3 Egleze moments
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