Newsom signs AI chatbots bill meant to protect children

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.