California passed a new law on October 13th against the backdrop of the growing artificial intelligence industry, aimed at protecting users' rights when interacting with chatbots. The bill, named "SB243," was signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom and became the first national safety regulation targeting chatbots. The bill was introduced by state senator Anthony Padilla, emphasizing the necessity of transparency and security for users.

Robot and human interaction, artificial intelligence, AI (2)

Image source note: The image is AI-generated, and the image licensing service is Midjourney

According to the new law, chatbot developers must take a series of safety measures, the most important of which is that if users may mistakenly believe they are communicating with a human while interacting with a chatbot, developers must provide "clear and prominent notice" to inform users that they are actually interacting with an artificial intelligence rather than a human. Additionally, starting next year, some chatbot operators will also need to submit annual reports to the California Suicide Prevention Office, detailing the measures they have taken to identify, delete, and respond to suicide-related thoughts that may arise in users. The office will also make this data public on its website for public access.

California Governor Newsom said when signing the bill that the rapid development of technology can inspire, educate, and connect people, but without effective regulation, technology could also exploit, mislead, and harm children. To ensure children's safety, the state government needs to implement corresponding responsibilities and protection measures while advancing the development of artificial intelligence and technology. He emphasized, "The safety of our children is not negotiable."

This news comes as California also passed another landmark bill, "SB53," which focuses on the transparency of artificial intelligence, although this bill has sparked widespread debate and discussion within the industry.

The implementation of this new law marks an important step in California's regulation of artificial intelligence, aiming to ensure that technological development and user safety proceed in parallel, especially concerning online safety for children.

Key points:

📜 The new law requires chatbot developers to inform users that they are AI, not humans.

🔍 Chatbot operators need to submit annual reports to the suicide prevention office, focusing on users' mental health.

👶 The California government emphasizes that while promoting technological development, it must protect children's safety.