It's About to Get Harder for AI Chatbots to Pretend to Be Human

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.

This week, California governor Gavin Newsom signed a handful of new laws that regulate artificial intelligence and social media. Among them is SB 243, which requires that chatbots provide "clear and conspicuous" notice that they are not a real person. The law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2027.

SB 243 also requires chatbots interacting with children to provide a reminder every three hours to take a break and prohibits chatbots used by minors from generating sexually explicit content. The law mandates that companion AIs have safeguards for people in mental distress, and requires companies to report how they handle situations involving suicidal ideation and self-harm.

“Emerging technology like chatbots and social media can inspire, educate and connect — but without real guardrails, technology can also exploit, mislead, and endanger our kids,” the Democratic governor said in a statement.

The rest of California's new AI and tech laws

SB 243 is just one piece of a broader package of tech-focused legislation Newsom approved this week. The AI transparency act (AB 853), requires large platforms to disclose when AI is used to generate content. It also requires that recording devices sold in California, such as cameras and video cameras, include the option to embed verifying information.

Another bill signed by Newsom, AB 56, requires social media platforms to add regularly timed warnings to minors of the potential mental health risks associated with the use of the apps. AB 621 strengthens penalties for companies whose platforms distribute "deepfake" pornography. And finally, AB 1043 requires that device makers (mostly Apple and Google) implement tools to verify user ages in their app stores.

As California goes, so go the rest of the states

While the laws governor Newsom signed only apply to California residents, big tech companies are expected to voluntarily implement the guidelines for the rest of the nation; the population of California is so large that state laws regulating technology there tend to be adopted everywhere.

This is assuming, of course, that legal challenges don't scuttle or significantly change the laws: like most legislation aimed at "protecting the children," there is a potential conflict between the protection of children and the protections of adults' rights.

View the full article