California Approves AI Regulation and Worker Protection Bills

California lawmakers have approved a range of proposals to regulate the artificial intelligence industry, combat deepfakes, and protect workers from exploitation by advancing technology. The Democratic-controlled California Legislature is currently voting on numerous bills in its final week of the session, with a deadline of Saturday to send them to Governor Gavin Newsom for consideration. The governor has until Sept. 30 to sign, veto, or let the proposals become law without his signature. While he expressed intentions to sign a proposal against election deepfakes in July, he has not yet taken a stance on other legislation.

The governor has previously emphasized the potential negative impact of overregulation on the state's homegrown industry. Some noteworthy AI bills that have been approved include measures to address the use of AI in deceptive election practices, deepfake creation, and child sexual abuse imagery. Additionally, California is considering being the first state to establish comprehensive safety measures for large AI models, requiring transparency in data usage and implementing safeguards against risks and algorithmic discrimination. There are also proposals to protect workers from being replaced by AI-generated clones, prevent the use of AI to replace call center employees, and impose penalties for digitally cloning deceased individuals without consent. Furthermore, lawmakers seek to improve AI literacy by integrating AI skills into school curriculums and establishing guidelines for AI use in classrooms.