California Governor Bans AI 'Robo Bosses' in Worker Discipline and Termination

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a new law that bans employers from relying exclusively on artificial intelligence for firing or disciplining workers. The legislation, SB 947, known as the "No Robo Bosses Act," prohibits businesses statewide from using automated decision-making systems as the sole basis for such actions.

Under the new law, employers who primarily use AI output to make termination or disciplinary decisions must now obtain a human review to corroborate these decisions. This human review must consider additional information, such as managerial evaluations and personnel files. The governor had previously vetoed an earlier version of the bill.

Employees affected by these AI-driven decisions must receive written notification that AI was "primarily used" in their case. This notice will include a description of the employee data utilized by the system and a human point of contact for further clarification. State Senator Jerry McNerney, the bill's author, emphasized that AI should remain a tool controlled by humans.

Governor Newsom has recently pursued multiple AI-related initiatives, including a broader executive order earlier this month addressing potential existential risks posed by AI models. He has also called on the federal government to take greater responsibility in protecting Americans from AI development.