California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a package of laws aimed at protecting workers from threats posed by artificial intelligence, including bans on using AI to predict employees' emotions and on AI making unsupervised decisions about hiring and firing.
Signed on September 30, the measures make California the first state to restrict how employers can deploy AI in the workplace. Among the key provisions: companies cannot use AI systems that claim to predict the emotions, thoughts, or character of workers from biometric data; employers must give workers written notice before layoffs driven by AI decisions; and workers cannot be fired by an algorithm alone — a human must be involved in termination decisions.
The legislation reflects growing concern about how AI tools are reshaping workplaces across the United States. Labour advocates have long argued that AI systems used for screening, monitoring, and productivity scoring can entrench bias and strip workers of due process, while business groups have cautioned that overly strict rules could push companies to adopt the technology elsewhere.
California's move is significant because the state is home to most of the world's largest AI developers, and its labour laws often become templates for other states. The new protections will apply to California employers once they take effect.
Sources:
- Gulf News (AP): https://gulfnews.com/world/americas...-to-protect-workers-from-ai-threats-1.5023456
Signed on September 30, the measures make California the first state to restrict how employers can deploy AI in the workplace. Among the key provisions: companies cannot use AI systems that claim to predict the emotions, thoughts, or character of workers from biometric data; employers must give workers written notice before layoffs driven by AI decisions; and workers cannot be fired by an algorithm alone — a human must be involved in termination decisions.
The legislation reflects growing concern about how AI tools are reshaping workplaces across the United States. Labour advocates have long argued that AI systems used for screening, monitoring, and productivity scoring can entrench bias and strip workers of due process, while business groups have cautioned that overly strict rules could push companies to adopt the technology elsewhere.
California's move is significant because the state is home to most of the world's largest AI developers, and its labour laws often become templates for other states. The new protections will apply to California employers once they take effect.
Sources:
- Gulf News (AP): https://gulfnews.com/world/americas...-to-protect-workers-from-ai-threats-1.5023456
