California Governor Newsom signs laws limiting the use of AI in the workplace
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed laws on 30 September 2026 that limit how employers use AI in firing decisions and in monitoring their workers.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed laws on 30 September 2026 that aim to protect workers from AI risks. According to AP, they bar employers from relying on AI to fire workers and from using biometric data to predict their emotional state. Gizmodo reports that the package includes the No Robo Bosses Act of 2026 and 12 other bills.
According to the Associated Press on 30 September 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed laws that set limits on the use of AI in the workplace. AP notes that it was the last day for Newsom, who leaves office in January, to sign or veto bills.
- Employers may not rely on AI to decide whether to fire a worker.
- Using AI to predict a worker's emotional state from biometric data is banned.
- When a mass layoff is caused by AI, workers have to be told in writing.
- According to Gizmodo, under the No Robo Bosses Act of 2026 a decision that leans mainly on an automated system has to be checked by a person against other evidence, such as manager evaluations.
Why it matters
Gizmodo reports that Newsom signed 12 more bills the same day, covering AI-driven layoffs, workplace surveillance, deepfakes, medical AI and lawyers' use of the technology. AP adds that earlier the same month Newsom signed a law that makes companies running chatbots assess the risks before launch. The laws apply only in California. Still, for Turkish companies with staff in the US, or those selling AI software for human resources, they could signal that human sign-off on hiring, performance and firing decisions is now on regulators' agenda. Documenting the role AI plays in these processes could make it easier to prepare for possible reviews.
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