Inside California's upcoming year in AI

California has long been the nation's testbed for innovation and regulation, and all eyes will be on the state this year thanks to AI.

Chatbots are set to take center stage this year.

Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan's Leading Ethical AI Development for Kids Act didn't make it across the finish line last year, but she's planning to introduce a bill within the next month "along the same lines" to protect kids from AI chatbots.
State Sen. Steve Padilla, meanwhile, is pushing to halt the production of toys with AI chatbot capabilities with SB 867, a first-of-its-kind bill that would place a four-year moratorium on toys with AI and chatbot features for kids under 12.
We'll also be tracking an effort to get a Common Sense-OpenAI ballot initiative meant to protect kids from AI and chatbots on the ballot.