OpenAI Backs Illinois Bill to Shield AI Labs From Liability
OpenAI testified in favor of an Illinois bill limiting AI lab liability, even for catastrophic harms, if safety reports are filed.
OpenAI is backing an Illinois bill that would protect AI companies from legal liability — even when their products cause what the legislation calls "critical harms." We're talking scenarios involving 100 or more deaths or over $1 billion in damages.
The ChatGPT-maker testified in favor of the bill, which creates a conditional shield for AI labs. The catch: companies would need to have published safety reports to qualify for the liability protection. No report, no shield.
It's a significant piece of proposed legislation that essentially lets AI developers off the hook for catastrophic outcomes, provided they've done their paperwork. The bill draws a line between companies that disclose known risks and those that stay silent.
For OpenAI, the support signals a clear preference for transparency-based regulation over strict liability frameworks.