California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs law banning AI 'robo bosses' for employee discipline
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 947, the No Robo Bosses Act, making it illegal for employers to rely solely on automated decision‑making systems to fire or discipline workers. The law requires a human reviewer to corroborate any AI‑driven termination or disciplinary action and mandates written notice to the employee describing the AI’s role, the data used, and a point of contact.
Key points
- SB 947 bans exclusive AI use for firing or disciplining employees and requires human review and written notice
- Law was revised after Newsom’s veto, dropping pre‑notification and gig‑worker provisions
- Labor groups championed the bill while business groups warned vague language could hinder useful AI tools
The bill, first introduced in 2025 by State Senator Jerry McNerney and backed by labor groups such as the California Federation of Labor, cleared the legislature after Newsom’s earlier veto was addressed by removing a pre‑notification requirement and limiting coverage of gig workers. Business groups warned that vague language around “primarily relies” could chill the use of tools that improve safety and consistency. The measure arrives as public distrust of AI rises – a Gallup poll shows 39% of Americans think AI does more harm than good, and Pew Research finds 71% believe AI will take jobs.
Other states and a stalled federal bill echo California’s approach, suggesting the law could set a national template for workplace AI regulation.
The story so far
5 episodes →- California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs law banning AI 'robo bosses' for employee disciplinethis story
California Gov. Gavin Newsom bans AI 'robo bosses' in landmark state law, reversing his earlier veto
CNBC Technology · 30 September 2026
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This text was published by CNBC Technology and written by Paxton Honerkamp. It is reproduced here with attribution so you can read it in full; the rights remain with the publisher. Read it at the source ↗
Coverage and discussion
2sources- Gavin Newsom signs laws to protect California workers from AI threatPress · The Guardian AI ·
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