Disruption

Newsom vetoes bill restricting youth access to AI chatbots

The governor signed a narrower bill to require regular reminders to minors that they are interacting with a chatbot.
(AP Illustration/Peter Hamlin)

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Monday issued a split verdict on two bills that would regulate artificial intelligence companion chatbots.

After weeks of lobbying, Newsom rejected Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan’s (D) Leading Ethical AI Development for Kids Act, also known as the LEAD Act, and signed a narrower measure authored by Sen. Steve Padilla (D). 

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