Will protecting minors overprotect adult users? As of January 1, 2026, California may become “the first state to require AI chatbot operators to implement safety protocols for AI companions and hold companies legally accountable if their chatbots fail to meet those standards,” according to an article just published in TechCrunch. The proposed law, passed by the California State Senate earlier this month, is primarily aimed at protecting minors who use AI, though other users seem to be i...
