Written Testimony of Beth Rudden, CEO of Bast AI
In Support of HB25-1212
Written Testimony of Beth Rudden, CEO of Bast AI
In Support of HB25-1212
Dear Members of the Colorado General Assembly,
My name is Beth Rudden, and I am the CEO of Bast AI, a company dedicated to building explainable, auditable, and responsible AI software. I am expressing my strong support for HB25-1212, which is essential for protecting AI developers while ensuring accountability for building and deploying these systems.
People build AI, yet the current development community is far from representative of the diverse populations these systems impact. There is a significant lack of variance in the current AI developers’ backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences. This not only limits the ability of AI to serve all people equitably but also places immense responsibility on a small group of individuals who are often working in isolation, making critical choices without the support structures needed to ensure ethical, responsible, and transparent outcomes. These developers need protections and a broader, more diverse set of neocortexes to shape AI’s future.
Moreover, AI development today often happens in silos, where individual engineers make technical decisions that ripple out far beyond their immediate scope, often without visibility into the long-term societal impact of their work. While every person involved in an AI system’s creation holds some responsibility for its impact on the world, proper accountability must extend to leadership. As CEOs and those with fiduciary responsibility, we must ensure that AI is developed in an environment where ethical considerations are not an afterthought but a core design principle. We need companies where developers feel proud to be part of an organization that prioritizes responsible AI—where they do not fear retribution for raising concerns and where their work is valued for more than just hitting performance benchmarks.
At Bast AI, we know that data is an artifact of human experience. This means that AI reflects the choices, biases, and values embedded by its creators. If we want AI to be transparent, fair, and beneficial to all, we must create conditions where developers are supported, variant perspectives are included, and leadership takes full responsibility for AI's impact on the world.
HB25-1212 is a step toward fostering an AI ecosystem that values developer protection and accountability at all levels. I urge you to support this bill, which will help ensure that AI is created with transparency, fairness, and responsibility at its core.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Beth Rudden
CEO, Bast AI
My notes for this include the testimony I gave for SB24-205 and the following outline:
I want to address the following three key areas for the reasons why I support:
Public Safety - The focus on public safety aligns with the growing industry consensus about the need for responsible AI development. As large companies approach AI governance, this bill recognizes that prioritizing safety and security must be fundamental to AI development.
Worker Protection - The bill's provisions protect AI workers who disclose critical information about foundation models. This is essential for maintaining safety and accountability in our industry. It aligns with established practices in other high-stakes technology sectors, where whistleblower protections have proven crucial for public safety.
Industry Standards - This legislation strikes a crucial balance between innovation and responsibility. As seen in other jurisdictions, clear regulatory frameworks enhance innovation by providing certainty and trust in the marketplace. The bill's approach to oversight mirrors successful models we've seen and is precise in its protections.
Technical leader perspective
As a business leader in the AI industry, I know these regulations are practical and necessary. The requirements outlined in the bill are implementable without creating an undue burden on companies while ensuring essential protections for workers and the public.
