OpenAI Backs Illinois Bill Shielding AI Labs From Liability for Major Harms

OpenAI backs Illinois SB 3444 to shield frontier AI developers from liability for “critical harms” like mass casualties or $1B+ property damage, as long as they don’t act intentionally or recklessly and publish safety, security, and transparency reports; frontier models would be defined by more than $100 million in compute. Supporters say the bill reduces a patchwork of state rules and helps preserve innovation while moving toward federal standards, though critics warn it could reduce accountability and its chances of passage remain uncertain.