California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday signed a batch of bills aimed at protecting kids using chatbots and AI tools online.
Why it matters: California has long been at the forefront of regulating tech, and AI is no exception.
Driving the news: The chatbots legislation signed by Newsom requires operators to have protocols in place to address content or interactions involving suicide or self-harm, such as referring a user to to a crisis hotline.
- The new law will require chatbots to notify minors every three hours to "take a break" and that the chatbot is not human.
- Newsom also signed other tech-related bills focused on age verification, social media warning labels and deepfakes.
Flashback: Last month, Newsom signed legislation to mandate transparency measures from frontier AI companies.
The bottom line: California is attempting to balance regulation as it encourages innovation in the AI space.
- "We can continue to lead in AI and technology, but we must do it responsibly — protecting our children every step of the way. Our children's safety is not for sale," Newsom said in a statement.
