Sam Altman contacts Gavin Newsom over kids’ chatbot safety bill

OpenAI’s CEO reached out to California Governor Gavin Newsom with a message that might surprise people who’ve watched the AI industry fight regulation tooth and nail: please sign this bill. The company publicly endorsed Senate Bill 1119, known as Adam’s Law, on August 31, 2026, calling on Newsom to make it law. The legislation would establish safety protocols for companion chatbots, requiring age verification, independent audits, and content safeguards specifically designed to protect minors. What SB 1119 actually requires The bill, introduced on February 17, 2026, and last amended on August 28, 2026, targets the growing ecosystem of AI chatbots that young people interact with daily. Platforms would need to implement age verification systems and conduct risk assessments before allowing minors to use companion chatbot features. For users aged 13 to 17, the bill mandates parental control tools and places hard limits on targeted advertising and the collection of personal data. There’s also a crisis intervention component. Chatbot platforms would be required to build mechanisms that connect users with crisis resources, a provision that carries extra weight given prior incidents where A...