California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a landmark bill on Monday that regulates AI companion chatbots, making it the first state in the nation to require AI chatbot operators to implement safety protocols for AI companions. The law, SB 243, is designed to protect children and vulnerable users from some of the harms associated with AI […]
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California has passed a new law aimed at quieting blaring advertisements on streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video, requiring commercial volumes to match the audio levels of the content being streamed. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the law on Monday. Starting July 1, 2026, streaming services won’t be allowed to “transmit the audio
California bans loud commercials on Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services Read More »
Drivers for ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft will soon have the right to unionize in California as independent contractors, thanks to a bill signed Friday by Governor Gavin Newsom. This is part of a larger deal between lawmakers, unions, and ride-hailing companies, resulting in the passage of separate bills supporting lower insurance requirements for
Newsom signs bill giving Uber and Lyft drivers in California the right to unionize Read More »
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed SB 53, a first-in-the-nation bill that sets new transparency requirements on large AI companies. SB 53, which passed the state legislature two weeks ago, requires large AI labs – including OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, and Google DeepMind – to be transparent about safety protocols. It also ensures whistleblower protections for employees at those companies. In addition, SB 53 creates a mechanism
California Governor Newsom signs landmark AI safety bill SB 53 Read More »
California’s state senate recently gave final approval to a new AI safety bill, SB 53, sending it to Governor Gavin Newsom to either sign or veto. If this all sounds familiar, that’s because Newsom vetoed another AI safety bill, also written by state senator Scott Wiener, last year. But SB 53 is narrower than Wiener’s
Why California’s SB 53 might provide a meaningful check on big AI companies Read More »
California’s state senate gave final approval early on Saturday morning to a major AI safety bill setting new transparency requirements on large companies. As described by its author, state senator Scott Wiener, SB 53 “requires large AI labs to be transparent about their safety protocols, creates whistleblower protections for [employees] at AI labs & creates
California lawmakers pass AI safety bill SB 53 — but Newsom could still veto Read More »
On Monday, Anthropic announced an official endorsement of SB 53, a California bill from state Senator Scott Wiener that would impose first-in-the-nation transparency requirements on the world’s largest AI model developers. Anthropic’s endorsement marks a rare and major win for SB 53, at a time when major tech groups like CTA and Chamber for Progress
Anthropic endorses California’s AI safety bill, SB 53 Read More »
California is committed to zero-emission vehicles, even if the federal mood shifts. The state’s governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said Monday that if the incoming Trump administration cuts the $7,500 EV tax credit, he will propose rebates for eligible residents who buy electric vehicles. “We’re not turning back on a clean transportation future – we’re
California will offer EV rebates if Trump kills federal tax credits Read More »
A federal judge blocked one of California’s new AI laws on Wednesday, less than two weeks after it was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Shortly after signing AB 2839, Newsom suggested it could be used to force Elon Musk to take down an AI deepfake of Vice President Kamala Harris he had reposted (sparking a
Judge blocks California’s new AI law in case over Kamala Harris deepfake Read More »
In September, California Governor Gavin Newsom considered 38 AI-related bills, including the highly contentious SB 1047, which the state’s legislature sent to his desk for final approval. He vetoed SB 1047 on Sunday, but signed more than a dozen other AI bills into law over the course of the month. These bills try to address
Here is what’s illegal under California’s 18 (and counting) new AI laws Read More »
