Illinois Governor Pritzker creates a state AI Cabinet to develop regulation proposals

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has signed an executive order creating an AI Cabinet of experts and representatives from several state agencies to explore further regulation of artificial intelligence. The unpaid group will develop policy proposals through 2027. It will analyze and assess "the various risks posed by AI to the safety of Illinois residents and the critical infrastructure residents rely on." According to Capitol News Illinois, the cabinet will develop policies and procedures to protect residents and public assets such as water systems, education and information systems. The order is the latest step in Illinois' own approach to AI regulation while the federal government stays largely hands-off. It also follows warnings from people inside the industry, including a former Anthropic and OpenAI researcher who alleged earlier this month that AI companies are building a tool that could become "out of control" and threaten human existence by 2030. "Artificial Intelligence has enormous potential to transform our everyday lives, but when experts and industry leaders sound the alarm bell, urge us to slow down, and ask for guardrails, we should listen," Pritzker said in a statement. The cabinet's proposals could shape future legislation in Illinois. They would affect AI developers and companies that deploy AI in the state.