CalCompute: foundation models: whistleblowers.

Senator Wiener's proposal to establish a state-operated cloud computing platform and enhance protections for artificial intelligence whistleblowers would create two distinct programs aimed at advancing California's AI capabilities while mitigating potential risks.

The legislation establishes CalCompute, a public cloud computing cluster housed within the Government Operations Agency and potentially operated by the University of California. A 14-member consortium comprising academic researchers, labor representatives, ethicists, and AI experts would develop the framework for CalCompute's creation by January 2027. The platform would provide computational resources and technical expertise to support AI research and development, with implementation contingent on future budget appropriations.

The bill also introduces new whistleblower protections for employees of major AI developers - defined as organizations that have trained foundation models using at least $100 million in computational resources. These provisions prohibit retaliation against workers who report potential critical risks, such as the creation of weapons, cyberattacks, or AI systems evading human control that could result in over 100 deaths or $1 billion in damages. Developers must establish anonymous reporting channels and provide monthly updates on investigations into disclosed risks. The law grants courts authority to award attorney's fees and injunctive relief to employees who successfully demonstrate violations of these protections.