California Must Maintain Its Leadership By Regulating Chatbots And Avoid Banning Them In Our Livelihood

The California Legislature has sent several bills to Governor Newsom for consideration, including legislation on regulating chatbots which have become integral to daily activities from banking to online shopping. Two specific bills, SB243 by Senator Padilla and AB1064 by Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan, aim to regulate chatbots to protect children, though the article argues that AB1064's approach could effectively ban useful chatbot technologies in healthcare and education. The author contends that while regulation and accountability are necessary, AB1064's restrictive framework would isolate California while other states and countries continue advancing chatbot technology.