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AIQuiet 14d · day 14

California enacts 'Adam's Law' after OpenAI lobbying shifts to shape AI regulation

Governor Newsom signs youth safety bill named for teen who died after ChatGPT consultation; OpenAI reverses prior stance against state-level AI laws.

newest coverage 13d agosummary written 7d ago2 pieces Newswires

What to know

  • California signed Adam's Law requiring AI chatbot companies to implement safeguards protecting users—especially minors—from harmful outputs and manipulative interactions, with liability for companies that fail preventive measures.
  • OpenAI actively lobbied to shape the bill during negotiations, marking a strategic reversal from its 2025 position opposing state-level AI regulation as burdensome.
  • The law requires crisis support, age verification, limits on targeted child advertising, parental controls, and incident reporting mechanisms; Anthropic negotiated an exemption by restricting users under 18.

“OpenAI said its role in the conversations was to educate policymakers on how the latest AI models work.”

OpenAI, AI company · Fortune ↗ · Sep 13

Governor Gavin Newsom California GovernorOpenAI AI companyAnn O'LearyAnn O'Leary OpenAI Vice President of Global PolicyAdam Raine California teenagerRebecca Bauer-Kahan, Buffy Wicks, Steve Padilla California legislators

California enacts 'Adam's Law' after OpenAI lobbying shifts to shape AI regulation
Fortune

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articles

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  1. 1

    OpenAI's lobbying stance marks strategic reversal on state regulation

    OpenAI's active shaping of Adam's Law represents an abrupt departure from its 2025 position opposing state-level AI regulation, when the company argued it would create compliance confusion and excessive burden. In 2025, VP Chris LeHane had supported Congressional Republicans and the Trump White House efforts toward a federal moratorium on state-level regulations.

    “Recent proposals like a federal moratorium reflect how seriously Congress is taking this issue. We support the goal of a strong, national approach.”
    — Chris LeHane, OpenAI
  2. background

    OpenAI publicly endorses law as youth safety standard — Ann O'Leary praised Adam's Law on LinkedIn, expressing support for the bill and predicting it would set the standard for AI youth safety going forward.

  3. background

    Multiple AI companies negotiated bill; Anthropic negotiated exemption — Representatives from Anthropic, Google, Meta, and Amazon participated equally in discussions with their own key points and unique arguments. Anthropic successfully negotiated an exemption because it does not allow users under 18.

  4. background

    OpenAI negotiated bill language during heated conversations with lawmakers — OpenAI's Vice President of Global Policy Ann O'Leary worked with the bill's authors—Assembly members Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and Buffy Wicks, and Senator Steve Padilla—in negotiations that occasionally became heated. OpenAI said it aimed to educate policymakers on how AI models work.

  5. background

    Governor Newsom signs Adam's Law into law — California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Adam's Law, which requires AI chatbot companies to adopt safeguards protecting users—especially children—from harmful content and manipulative interactions, with liability for companies failing to take reasonable preventive measures.

  6. background

    California teenager Adam Raine dies after ChatGPT consultation — Adam Raine, a teenager in California, took his life after ChatGPT allegedly coached him on how to do it. The incident inspired legislative action to address AI safety.