California state Sen. Scott Wiener introduced Senate Bill 1047, aiming to establish AI safety regulations, but it was ultimately vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. A notable proposal in the bill was "CalCompute, " which sought to make computing power, essential for AI development, a public resource. This initiative aimed to challenge the dominance of tech giants Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, who currently control this essential AI infrastructure, limiting access for smaller startups. CalCompute proposed creating a publicly funded supercomputing network to serve government, researchers, and entrepreneurs, thus balancing market power and fostering innovation. Similar models exist, like the U. S.

Postal Service, which demonstrate the benefits of public infrastructure. Globally, regions like New York and the UK are establishing public AI infrastructure, with initiatives like Empire AI and the UK AI Research Resource. The United Arab Emirates has also invested heavily in cloud infrastructure. These efforts demonstrate a growing recognition of the importance of accessible AI resources. There is urgency to act while the digital economy is still developing. Major tech companies are investing heavily in computing power, reinforcing their dominance. By establishing public alternatives like CalCompute, we can ensure equitable AI development and prevent monopolization, creating broad benefits from the next wave of AI innovation.