A political rift between two of America’s leading AI laboratories has emerged over a proposed Illinois law that would grant AI companies near-total immunity from liability for harms caused by their models. Anthropic announced its opposition to the legislation, directly challenging OpenAI’s position and drawing new battle lines in the debate over AI regulation.
The Proposed SB 3444 Bill
The legislation, known as SB 3444, would exempt AI laboratories from responsibility if their models are used to cause mass casualties or more than $1 billion in property damage—so long as the lab published its own safety framework on its website. OpenAI has backed the bill, arguing it reduces serious harm risks while still allowing AI technology to reach Illinois businesses and residents.
Anthropic’s VP of US Government Relations, Cesar Fernandez, stated: “We are opposed to this bill. Good transparency legislation needs to ensure public safety and accountability for the companies developing this powerful technology, not provide a get-out-of-jail-free card against all liability.”
Two Competing Visions for AI Regulation
The disagreement reveals fundamentally different approaches to AI governance. OpenAI argues for what it calls a “harmonized” approach across states, believing that liability shields encourage innovation without sacrificing safety. The company maintains it will continue working with states including Illinois toward a consistent safety framework that could inform national policy.
Anthropic, by contrast, argues that companies developing frontier AI models should be held at least partially responsible when their technology causes widespread societal harm. The company testified last week in support of a different Illinois bill, SB 3261, which would require frontier AI developers to create public safety plans tested by independent third-party auditors.
Industry and Political Reactions
The debate has attracted attention beyond the AI industry. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s office stated: “The Governor does not believe big tech companies should ever be given a full shield that evades responsibilities they should have to protect the public interest.”
AI policy experts note that SB 3444 has only a remote chance of becoming law, but it signals growing political divisions between AI companies that could shape future regulatory battles nationwide.
The clash comes amid increased lobbying activity from AI labs across US states, with both Anthropic and OpenAI working to influence legislation from California to New York to Illinois.