California is taking significant steps to regulate artificial intelligence, particularly in the workforce. Several bills are being considered to address AI-related issues, including anti-discrimination, transparency, and accountability. One such bill, AB 1018, aims to regulate automated decision systems (ADS) in employment, healthcare, housing, and other critical sectors. This bill imposes strict oversight on AI developers and deployers, including performance evaluations, third-party audits, data retention requirements, and transparency mandates for AI-driven decisions.
Other bills, such as AB 2013, require developers of generative AI systems or services to post a high-level summary of the datasets used to train these systems, promoting transparency in AI development. AB 2876 focuses on teaching AI literacy in schools to prepare students for an AI-driven workforce and ensure they understand basic AI principles, applications, and implications. Additionally, AB 3030 mandates healthcare facilities to include disclaimers when using generative AI to produce patient communications, ensuring patients are aware of AI-generated content.
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed 17 AI-related bills into law, covering topics such as deepfakes, AI watermarking, and digital replicas of entertainers. However, he vetoed SB 1047, a bill that would have imposed safety measures on large AI models, citing concerns that it was not the best approach to protecting the public from AI threats.
Looking ahead, Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan plans to reintroduce legislation to protect against algorithmic discrimination, imposing extensive risk mitigation measures on covered entities. The California Privacy Protection Agency is also working on rulemaking under the California Consumer Privacy Act to restrict the use of automated decision-making technology. These efforts demonstrate California's commitment to regulating AI and ensuring its safe and responsible use in various sectors.
