California backs down on AI laws so more tech leaders don’t flee the state
Tech companies spent millions lobbying California policymakers and threatened to relocate, pressuring Gov. Newsom to veto AI safety bills protecting children.
Newsom vetoed AB 1064, which would have required companion chatbot operators to prevent systems from encouraging self-harm in minors.
Child safety advocates who pushed the legislation plan to revive protections through a statewide ballot initiative.
California’s tech companies, the epicenter of the state’s economy, sent politicians a loud message this year: Back down from restrictive artificial intelligence regulation or they’ll leave.
The tactic appeared to have worked, activists said, because some politicians weakened or scrapped guardrails to mitigate AI’s biggest risks.