SACRAMENTO — In a landmark move to protect children and vulnerable users from the potential harms of artificial intelligence, California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday signed the nation’s first law establishing specific safeguards for AI-powered “companion chatbots,” a direct response to tragic cases where the technology was linked to teen suicides.

The new law, Senate Bill 243, was authored by Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) and forms a cornerstone of a broader package of legislation signed by the Governor aimed at setting new national standards for tech accountability and child safety. The package also includes laws mandating social media warning labels, age-verification mechanisms, and the nation's toughest penalties for distributing deepfake pornography.

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