California Mandates AI Chatbot Disclosure and Safeguards

A new California law, Senate Bill 243, was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on October 13 and imposes “first‑in‑the‑nation” safeguards for companion AI chatbots. The law requires developers to provide a “clear and conspicuous notification” that a product is AI — specifically when “a reasonable person interacting with a companion chatbot would be misled to believe that the person is interacting with a human.”

Beginning next year, certain companion‑chatbot operators must submit annual reports to California’s Office of Suicide Prevention describing safeguards they’ve put in place “to detect, remove, and respond to instances of suicidal ideation by users.” The Office is required to publish those reports on its website, increasing transparency around safety measures for chatbots that form emotional or supportive relationships with users.

Newsom framed the bill as part of broader protections for children online, saying tech can “inspire, educate, and connect” but can also “exploit, mislead, and endanger our kids” without guardrails. SB 243 follows California’s earlier Senate Bill 53, the state’s AI transparency law, signaling continued legislative focus on AI disclosure and safety in consumer products.

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