Governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation preventing employers from using artificial intelligence as the sole basis for firing or disciplining workers in California.
Key facts
- •SB 947 requires human corroboration for any termination or disciplinary action primarily decided by AI.
- •Employers must provide written notice to employees when AI is used in adverse employment decisions.
- •The law prohibits the use of biometric data to predict an employee's emotional state.
- •Governor Newsom signed the legislation alongside other measures requiring risk assessments for AI chatbots.
- •The California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO, supported the legislation as a means to regulate AI in the workplace.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 947, known as the No Robo Bosses Act, which prohibits businesses from relying exclusively on automated decision-making systems for employee discipline or termination. The law mandates that any disciplinary action primarily driven by AI must be corroborated by a human reviewer using additional evidence, such as personnel files or managerial evaluations. Employers are also required to provide workers with written notice when AI is used in such decisions.
Requirements for AI-Driven Decisions
Under the new legislation, companies must provide affected employees with a description of the data used by the AI system and identify a human point of contact who can explain the decision. The law aims to ensure that artificial intelligence remains a tool managed by humans rather than an autonomous authority. State Senator Jerry McNerney, the bill's author, noted that while AI can improve productivity, it has also exhibited bias and errors that necessitate human oversight.
Broader Workplace Protections
In addition to the No Robo Bosses Act, Governor Newsom signed further measures intended to protect workers from AI-related threats. These include a ban on using biometric data to predict a worker's emotional state and a requirement for employers to issue written notices to staff regarding AI involvement in mass layoffs. These actions follow a series of recent state-level initiatives, including executive orders and laws requiring risk assessments for AI chatbots, which Newsom stated are necessary due to a lack of comprehensive federal regulation.
Political Context and Future Oversight
The signing of these bills occurred on the final day for the governor to act on legislation before his term concludes in January. During a press event, Newsom criticized the federal government for failing to establish national AI standards. He indicated that California may continue to pursue further oversight, potentially through a special legislative session, to address the evolving risks associated with the technology.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by CNBC Technology, ABC News Technology.
