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California cracking down on AI chatbots

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California cracking down on AI chatbots


SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Governor Gavin Newsom signed landmark legislation Monday to strengthen the state’s protections for children online and create safeguards around rapidly-developing Artificial Intelligence.

The new laws require tech companies — many of which are based in San Francisco — to have protocols and warnings regarding AI companion chatbots.

The governor said, “Emerging technology like chatbots and social media can inspire, educate, and connect. But without real guardrails, technology can also exploit, mislead, and endanger our kids. We’ve seen some truly horrific and tragic examples of young people harmed by unregulated tech, and we won’t stand by while companies continue without necessary limits and accountability.”

“We can continue to lead in AI and technology, but we must do it responsibly — protecting our children every step of the way. Our children’s safety is not for sale,” Newsom said.

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Under California’s new laws, tech companies that develop companion chatbot platforms must establish protocols to identify and address users’ expressions of self-harm. Platforms must also disclose to users that interactions are artificially generated. Minors must be provided break reminders, and prevented from viewing sexually explicit images generated by a chatbot, according to Newsom’s office.

Newly signed legislation also establishes a prohibition against chatbots representing themselves as health care professionals that can provide medical advice. Tech companies will also be held liable for real-world harm caused by their AI products.

The world’s largest AI event, Dreamforce, began Tuesday in downtown San Francisco. For Salesforce’s annual conference, speakers include Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, and OpenAI COO Brad Lightcap, and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff walk across a stage during the 2024 Dreamforce conference in San Francisco on Sept. 17, 2024. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Benioff called AI the “next great technology transformation — where humans and AI work together to drive productivity, growth, and meaningful change.”

AI-related legislation signed by Newsom this year includes:

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  • AB 316 by Assemblymember Maggy Krell (D-Sacramento); Artificial intelligence: defenses.
  • AB 489 by Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland); Health care professions: deceptive terms or letters: Artificial Intelligence
  • AB 853 by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland); California AI Transparency Act.
  • AB 53 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco); Artificial Intelligence models: large developers.
  • SB 243 by Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego); Companion chatbots.

A study released last month documented cases of ChatGPT chatbots triggering psychotic episodes in adult users by reinforcing grand ideas, blurring boundaries of reality, and encouraging delusional beliefs.

(Photo illustration by Cheng Xin/Getty Images)

Researchers wrote, “We have documented the recent remarkable increase in reported cases of … ‘AI psychosis,’ wherein individuals … have had delusional beliefs encouraged and arguably amplified through interactions with autonomous AI agents.”

Through chatbot conversations, one user began to believe that he could fly if he jumped off a tall office building in New York City. Another man planned to seek revenge against OpenAI executives for apparently deleting a chatbot who he fell in love with, named “Juliet.” In another case, a woman’s conversations with her chatbot led heated arguments with her husband over how much time she spent using AI.



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50 Beagles Rescued From Wisconsin Lab Arrive in Bay Area, SF Activist Faces Felony Charges

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50 Beagles Rescued From Wisconsin Lab Arrive in Bay Area, SF Activist Faces Felony Charges


Animal rescue groups persuaded a Wisconsin breeding lab to sell 1,500 beagles after activists worked for a decade to free them, and 50 of the dogs arrived in the Bay Area Sunday. Meanwhile, an SF activist faces 12 years in prison for rescuing some of them prior to the deal.

Last month, several animal rights activists attempted to free 1,500 beagles at Wisconsin-based Ridglan Farms, the second-largest breeder of beagles for laboratories in the US, as KGO reported last week. Four activists, including Dean Guzman Wyrzykowski of San Francisco, were arrested during the rescue operation and charged with felonies, with up to 12 years in prison, according to a post by Wyrzykowski on social media.

“There are thousands of dogs just like her in laboratories across the country,” says Wyrzykowski, while holding the dog he’s accused of stealing.

Last week, animal rights group Big Dog Ranch Rescue, which is based in Florida, and DC-based Center for a Humane Economy made a confidential agreement with the lab to purchase the animals to be adopted out by rescue groups. Per KGO, well-known Berkeley activist Zoe Rosenberg, who brought one beagle named Chester home with her, was among the volunteers helping the dogs in Wisconsin after they were rescued.

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Northern California Beagle Rescue Group/Facebook

As KGO reports, the Northern California Beagle Rescue Group brought 50 beagles to the Bay Area via school bus Sunday, and they’ll be adopting them out to homes in San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, and nearby cities once they’ve received veterinary care.

The dogs had likely never touched grass until after leaving the lab, and they’ve been slowly acclimating to their new lives. Some were reportedly malnourished and most had bad teeth and were in need of dental work.

“It was very emotional,” says Wendy Lansdon, a volunteer with Northern California Beagle Rescue, speaking to KGO about when the bus full of dogs first arrived in the Bay Area. “Some of them were really quiet when we got in there, some of them were happy, and the other ones were terrified.”

Prior to the dogs’ arrival, the Northern California Beagle Rescue Group announced on social media it was seeking foster home volunteers in Fremont, San Jose, and Sacramento — near where the beagles will be receiving veterinary care. The group is also requesting donations to help fund the dogs’ vet care.

According to the site Save the Dogs, activists had been pushing for the closure of Ridglan Farms for almost 10 years, as investigators, whistleblowers, veterinarians, and others worked to spread the word about the inhumane conditions of the lab, which stayed in operation for decades, despite being hit with hundreds of state-level cruelty violations.

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Save the Dogs

“The dogs born there were treated as inventory: bred, confined, sold to research, disposed of,” says Save the Dogs.

Save the Dogs notes that activists are now targeting Marshall BioResources, the largest breeder of dogs for laboratories in the country, which has operations in New York and the United Kingdom.

Image: Northern California Beagle Rescue/Facebook





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San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers Live Stream: How to Watch MLB

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San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers Live Stream: How to Watch MLB


Division-leading Dodgers aim to snap home losing trend as they open series against the Giants in a matchup of NL West foes

After dropping their second straight home series over the weekend, the Los Angeles Dodgers head into Monday night’s series opener against the San Francisco Giants sitting atop the National League West Division standings, aiming to avenge a series loss to the Giants from two weeks ago. San Francisco has lost nine of its last 12 games overall and have dropped seven in a row on the road as they begin a 10-game road trip that will keep them away from home until Memorial Day Weekend. The Giants will start Trevor McDonald (1-0, 1.29 ERA) in his fourth start in the Majors while the Dodgers will counter with second-year Japanese import Roki Sasaki (1-3, 5.97 ERA) who has given up a home run in five consecutive outings.

How to Watch San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers:

Date: May 11, 2026  

Time: 10:00 p.m. ET

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TV Channel: MLB Network

Location: Dodgers Stadium

Live Stream the San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers game on Fubo: Start watching now!

Dodger center fielder Andy Pages, who has helped Los Angeles claim World Series titles in each of his first two years in the Majors, leads the team this season hitting .333, ranking the 25-year-old Cuban third among all hitters in MLB. Pages is hitting .371 so far in May with five extra base hits and 10 RBIs and has successfully reached base in 13 of his last 14 games.

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With nine hits in seven games so far this month, Giants second baseman Luis Arraez is hitting a team-leading .310 at the plate in 2026 and is on pace for his eighth career 100-hit campaign. Arraez is one of only two active players with a career batting average above .300, hitting .316 for his career and leads Houston’s Jose Altuve by 15 points.

What time is Giants vs Dodgers?

Coverage of the San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers starts  Monday, May 11, at 10:00 p.m ET. Tune in to see if the Dodgers can beat the Giants for the fifth time in the last six games at Dodger Stadium or if San Francisco can beat LA for the fourth time in the last five head-to-head matchups.

What channel is the Giants vs Dodgers game on?

Looking to watch the game? Subscribers can tune to MLB Network to catch the action. Make sure you subscribe to Fubo now to watch this matchup at home or on the go with the Fubo TV app.

Watch the San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers game on Fubo: Start watching now!

Regional restrictions may apply.

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Mother’s Day Gamethread: Giants vs. Pirates

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Mother’s Day Gamethread: Giants vs. Pirates


Happy Mother’s Day to all the McCoven who hopefully have better things to do than watch this dreadful baseball team. But if this is your chosen way of spending the day, then welcome, and may the Giants beat the Pittsburgh Pirates to win the series for you.

Right-hander Tyler Mahle takes the mound for the Giants, as the veteran makes his eighth start of the year. He’s 1-4 on the season, with a 5.00 ERA, a 4.91 FIP, and 34 strikeouts to 18 walks in 36 innings. He was very strong his last time out, pitching 5.1 shutout innings against the Tampa Bay Rays.

For the Pirates, it’s right-hander Bubba Chandler, a 23-year old in his second season. In seven starts this year, Chandler is 1-4 with a 4.76 ERA, a 5.60 FIP, and 31 strikeouts to 26 walks in 34 innings. Chandler gave up two runs in five innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks in his last game. He has issued the most walks in the Major Leagues, so he’s probably foaming at the mouth to face the Giants, who apparently believe that drawing walks is a sin on par with murder.

Enjoy the game, everyone. Go Giants! Go moms!

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Who: San Francisco Giants (15-24) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (22-18)

Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, California

Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area

Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM



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