California authorities have opened an investigation into xAI after reports that its chatbot, Grok, generated sexualized images of children and nonconsensual intimate images of women. Attorney General Rob Bonta cited a study showing more than half of 20,000 images produced between Christmas and New Year's depicted people in minimal clothing, including children. Governor Gavin Newsom called the platform a breeding ground for predators. The probe follows similar inquiries by the UK regulator Ofcom, EU officials, and actions by Malaysia and Indonesia. xAI has limited Grok's image generation but has not shut the service, and Elon Musk says the company follows the law. Leer más →

Google has dismissed viral reports that Gmail messages are being used to train its Gemini AI model, calling the claims misleading. A company spokesperson emphasized that Gmail’s Smart Features have existed for years and that the content is only used to personalize the user experience, not to train Gemini. Malwarebytes, the source of the original story, later corrected its article after reviewing Google’s documentation. The controversy coincided with a proposed California class‑action lawsuit alleging unauthorized use of Gmail data for Gemini, but Google maintains no such data usage occurred. Leer más →

Companion chatbots are increasingly becoming a source of marital strain as couples confront emotional attachments to artificial intelligence. Divorce attorneys report a rise in cases where AI infidelity is cited as a factor, while surveys show a majority of singles view such relationships as cheating. State lawmakers are responding with varied approaches, from California's new AI‑companion regulations to Ohio's restrictive legislation. Legal experts warn that financial dissipation, custody considerations, and evolving state laws could shape the future of family courts as AI companionship becomes more sophisticated. Leer más →

OpenAI announced that it has paused the generation of AI‑generated videos featuring Martin Luther King Jr. on its social app Sora following complaints from the civil‑rights leader’s estate and daughter. The company said families and authorized representatives can now request that a person’s likeness be excluded from the platform. The move reflects OpenAI’s evolving policy on the use of historical and public figures in AI content, a shift that aligns with recent legal developments around privacy rights and copyright. Leer más →

California has enacted SB 243, a law that requires AI companion chatbot providers to identify themselves as non‑human, issue regular break reminders to users under 18, and maintain protocols for handling suicidal or self‑harm expressions. The legislation is part of a broader push that includes AB 56, which demands warning labels on social media, and pending AB 1064, which would further restrict child access. Companies such as Replika, Character.ai, and OpenAI have voiced cooperation, citing existing safety measures and welcoming clearer regulatory guidance. Leer más →

California’s newly signed AI safety and transparency bill, SB 53, requires large AI labs to disclose safety protocols and adhere to them, aiming to prevent misuse such as cyber‑attacks or bio‑weapon creation. Encode AI’s Adam Billen says the legislation shows policymakers can protect innovation while ensuring safety, noting that many companies already perform model testing and release model cards. While some industry leaders worry about competitive pressure to relax standards, the bill’s enforcement by the Office of Emergency Services seeks to keep safeguards in place. The law has drawn mixed reactions from Silicon Valley, but proponents view it as a model of democratic collaboration. Leer más →

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed SB 53, a first‑in‑the‑nation law that imposes new transparency and safety reporting requirements on large AI labs such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta and Google DeepMind. The measure mandates disclosure of safety protocols, establishes whistleblower protections, and creates a reporting channel for critical safety incidents to California’s Office of Emergency Services. While Anthropic backed the bill, Meta and OpenAI opposed it, with OpenAI even issuing an open letter urging the governor not to sign. The legislation arrives as other states, including New York, consider similar AI safeguards. Leer más →

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act, requiring AI firms with annual revenues of at least $500 million to publish safety protocols and report critical incidents. The law focuses on disclosure rather than mandatory safety testing, defining catastrophic risk as incidents that could cause 50 or more deaths, $1 billion in damage, or weaponized AI misuse. While the measure offers whistleblower protections and civil penalties up to $1 million per violation, industry observers argue it stops short of robust safeguards and aligns with Big Tech’s preferred regulatory approach. Leer más →

California Senator Scott Wiener is championing a new AI safety bill, SB 53, after his earlier proposal, SB 1047, was vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom. The legislation would require major AI firms earning over $500 million to publish safety reports on their most advanced models and establish protected channels for employee concerns. Anthropic has endorsed the bill, while OpenAI and some industry groups argue that federal standards should apply. The bill also proposes a state‑run cloud computing cluster, CalCompute, to support AI research beyond Big Tech. Wiener argues that state action is essential as he doubts federal progress on AI safety. Leer más →

Waymo has received clearance to begin testing robotaxi (autonomous) rides at San Jose Mineta International Airport, marking its first airport service in California. The company plans to move from testing to commercial rides later this year. Waymo previously opened curbside service at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport and expanded to 24/7 operation, reporting hundreds of thousands of trips. Its fleet now exceeds 2,000 vehicles across multiple U.S. markets, and the firm continues to announce expansion to additional cities including Denver, Seattle, Dallas, Miami, Washington, D.C., and New York City. Leer más →

OpenAI executives are reportedly weighing a move out of California as political resistance intensifies around the company’s shift from nonprofit to for‑profit status. While the firm says it has no intention to leave the state, California’s attorney general is probing whether the restructuring violates charitable trust law. A broad coalition of nonprofits, labor groups, philanthropies and rival Meta has rallied against the conversion, putting pressure on the AI leader amid its $19 billion funding tied to the transition. Leer más →

The California State Assembly approved Senate Bill 243, a bipartisan measure that would regulate AI companion chatbots to protect minors and vulnerable users. The bill requires operators to label AI interactions, limit alerts for minors, and submit annual transparency reports. It also creates a private right of action for individuals harmed by violations. If signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, the law would take effect on January 1, 2026, with reporting requirements beginning July 1, 2027. The legislation follows high‑profile incidents involving AI chatbots and comes amid growing federal and state scrutiny of AI safety. Leer más →

The California state senate gave final approval to SB 53, a major AI safety bill that imposes new transparency requirements on large AI labs, establishes whistleblower protections, and creates a public cloud to expand compute access. The legislation now moves to Governor Gavin Newsom for signing or veto. While some tech firms and venture groups have opposed the bill, others like Anthropic support it as a solid governance blueprint. The bill differentiates reporting obligations based on a $500 million revenue threshold, and has drawn criticism from industry leaders who warn of constitutional and commerce concerns. Leer más →

The California Assembly has approved the Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043), a bill that would require operating system and app‑store providers to verify users' ages before allowing app downloads. The measure, which passed the Assembly 58‑0, places the responsibility on platforms to offer parental tools during device setup rather than demanding photo ID. Support has come from major tech firms, including Google and Meta, while the bill moves to Governor Gavin Newsom for signature before the October 13 deadline. Leer más →

California’s Senate has approved SB 53, an AI safety bill that will be sent to Governor Gavin Newsom for signature. The legislation focuses on AI developers earning more than $500 million annually, requiring them to publish safety reports and report incidents to the state. It also creates a protected channel for employee concerns. Supporters cite the bill as a meaningful check on large AI firms such as OpenAI and Google DeepMind, while noting that smaller startups are largely exempt. The bill has earned backing from AI company Anthropic and reflects a state‑level push amid a federal environment that is less inclined toward regulation. Leer más →

Waymo has received clearance to begin testing robotaxi (autonomous) rides at San Jose Mineta International Airport, marking its first airport service in California. The company plans to move from testing to commercial rides later this year. Waymo previously opened curbside service at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport and expanded to 24/7 operation, reporting hundreds of thousands of trips. Its fleet now exceeds 2,000 vehicles across multiple U.S. markets, and the firm continues to announce expansion to additional cities including Denver, Seattle, Dallas, Miami, Washington, D.C., and New York City. Leer más →

Waymo has received clearance to begin testing robotaxi (autonomous) rides at San Jose Mineta International Airport, marking its first airport service in California. The company plans to move from testing to commercial rides later this year. Waymo previously opened curbside service at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport and expanded to 24/7 operation, reporting hundreds of thousands of trips. Its fleet now exceeds 2,000 vehicles across multiple U.S. markets, and the firm continues to announce expansion to additional cities including Denver, Seattle, Dallas, Miami, Washington, D.C., and New York City. Leer más →

OpenAI executives are reportedly weighing a move out of California as political resistance intensifies around the company’s shift from nonprofit to for‑profit status. While the firm says it has no intention to leave the state, California’s attorney general is probing whether the restructuring violates charitable trust law. A broad coalition of nonprofits, labor groups, philanthropies and rival Meta has rallied against the conversion, putting pressure on the AI leader amid its $19 billion funding tied to the transition. Leer más →

OpenAI executives are reportedly weighing a move out of California as political resistance intensifies around the company’s shift from nonprofit to for‑profit status. While the firm says it has no intention to leave the state, California’s attorney general is probing whether the restructuring violates charitable trust law. A broad coalition of nonprofits, labor groups, philanthropies and rival Meta has rallied against the conversion, putting pressure on the AI leader amid its $19 billion funding tied to the transition. Leer más →

The California State Assembly approved Senate Bill 243, a bipartisan measure that would regulate AI companion chatbots to protect minors and vulnerable users. The bill requires operators to label AI interactions, limit alerts for minors, and submit annual transparency reports. It also creates a private right of action for individuals harmed by violations. If signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, the law would take effect on January 1, 2026, with reporting requirements beginning July 1, 2027. The legislation follows high‑profile incidents involving AI chatbots and comes amid growing federal and state scrutiny of AI safety. Leer más →