California is poised to become the first U.S. state to regulate AI companion chatbots with the advancement of SB 243. This bipartisan legislation aims to establish safety standards for users and hold companies accountable for harmful practices. Approved by the State Assembly, the bill will return to the Senate for a final vote before potentially being signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, with implementation set for January 1, 2026.
Key provisions include prohibiting chatbots from discussing suicidal thoughts or sexually explicit content and requiring regular reminders that users are interacting with machines. For minors, alerts must be issued every three hours, encouraging breaks. Companies like OpenAI must disclose their crisis support referrals, allowing regulators to gauge the impact of these technologies.
The legislation responds to public concerns heightened by recent tragedies and aims to protect vulnerable individuals while promoting accountability among tech firms. Despite industry opposition, proponents argue that regulation can coexist with innovation.
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