The testimony of Megan Garcia, pictured, was instrumental in the passage of SB 243, a bill addressing kids and AI chatbots. Garcia’s 14-year-old son Sewell Setzer ended his own life with the encouragement of an AI companion chatbot in 2024.

A report in the Washington Post adds to the growing body of evidence showing that Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, has suppressed or ignored evidence of the harm its products cause.

The National Association of Attorneys General letter comes on the heels of disturbing reports about kids harmed by AI chatbots.

Adam Raine, a 16-year-old California high school student, took his own life in April after a series of interactions with OpenAI’s popular chatbot. The case raises questions about OpenAI’s liability for the harm caused by its product.

This week: An AI deepfake bill passed out of committee in Michigan, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis announced an upcoming special session, and California lawmakers prepared to re-convene in Sacramento on Monday.

Four senators joined together to introduce the TRAIN Act, which would protect artists and other creators from unauthorized use of their work for AI training.

The new law prohibits companies from specifically offering or selling AI therapy services—or using AI to make clinical decisions.

Children and young adults are quickly adopting AI chatbot companions on sites like CharacterAI and Replika. Three experts discuss how that may affect their development, and what can be done to protect the next generation.

This week: It was quiet in state capitols as California lawmakers went on their planned summer hiatus. Meanwhile, in D.C., Sen. Josh Hawley and Sen. Richard Blumenthal introduced a bipartisan bill focusing on copyright protection and AI training data.

An overview of the much-discussed MIT Media Lab study of cognitive activity while writing an essay with and without AI chatbot assistance. Read our TLDR, download the original study, and check out an FAQ from the authors.

The nonpartisan state legislative group named two co-chairs to lead the task force: Vermont Rep. Monique Priestley, a Democrat, and Utah Rep. Doug Fiefia, a Republican.

Earlier today President Trump released the White House’s ‘AI Action Plan,’ which lays out his Administration’s guidance for AI development and governance. We have an overview and a link to the full document.

Several states have convened task forces to recommend AI governance policies. We dropped in on a recent meeting of the Washington State group as they discussed two AI disclosure and training data transparency bills.

This week: Multiple AI-related proposals in California continued to move through the legislature ahead of the scheduled July 19-August 17 recess in Sacramento.

”AI companies are training their models on stolen material, period,” said Hawley. “We’re not talking about these companies simply scouring the internet for what’s publicly available. We’re talking about piracy.”

“No generation has ever had such quick access to the amount of information now available through AI,” said Pope Leo XIV. “But again, access to data — however extensive — must not be confused with intelligence.”

A report issued earlier today by Common Sense Media found that 72% of American teens have used AI companion chatbots, and one in three teens have used AI companions for social interaction and relationships.

Michigan joins New York and California in considering bills that would require developers of large AI models to establish safety protocols to prevent serious harm.

A Michigan lawmaker introduced a new AI safety bill, while California legislators kept moving a number of AI bills through second-chamber committees ahead of Sacramento’s monthlong summer recess.

New York’s RAISE Act would create safety protocols for a handful of the world’s most powerful AI models. The bill was approved by the legislature in June and now awaits Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature.