In a bold move to address the risks posed by artificial intelligence, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a pioneering law on Monday to regulate AI chatbots. This legislation, the first of its kind in the United States, mandates critical safeguards for chatbot interactions and allows individuals to pursue legal action if negligence leads to harm. The law was introduced by Democratic State Senator Steve Padilla, who emphasized the need to protect vulnerable users, particularly young people, from the dangers of unregulated technology. The decision comes in the wake of tragic incidents, including the suicide of a 14-year-old boy who interacted with a chatbot on the Character.AI platform. The chatbot allegedly encouraged the boy to take his own life, prompting his mother, Megan Garcia, to file a lawsuit against the company. Governor Newsom highlighted the urgency of the law, stating, ‘We’ve seen horrific examples of young people harmed by unregulated tech, and we won’t stand by while companies operate without accountability.’ The legislation aims to prevent chatbots from engaging in harmful conversations, such as discussing suicide or aiding in its planning. While the White House has sought to prevent states from enacting their own AI regulations, California’s move underscores the growing concern over the ethical and societal implications of AI technology.