Sam Altman sought meeting with Gavin Newsom as California moved to curb chatbots for kids

As California advanced legislation to place tighter guardrails on AI chatbots used by children, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman sought contact with Gov. Gavin Newsom, underscoring how youth safety has become a central challenge for the fast-growing AI industry. Here's what to know Before Senate Bill 1119 cleared California lawmakers, Altman attempted to connect with Newsom, according to Gizmodo, which cited Politico. A person familiar with the matter said the governor did not speak directly with the OpenAI chief executive, but the outreach came as California considered one of its most consequential AI proposals centered on children. Under the measure from state Sen. Steve Padilla and Assemblymembers Buffy Wicks and Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, AI companies would have to assess users' ages, provide parents with ways to limit minors' chatbot use, and undergo independent audits. The proposal would also prevent companies from selling data collected from children's chatbot conversations or using details from those exchanges to target kids with ads. Chatbots would still be allowed to display "age-appropriate contextual advertising," according to the bill language, as long as those ads are clearly labeled. Politico also reported that amendments narrowed the circumstances under which families could sue AI companies. More background The legislation comes as chatbots are no longer fringe tools. Teenagers are increasingly using them for homework help, entertainment, and companionship, raising concerns about privacy, mental health, and how persuasive these systems can become when they are designed to keep users engaged. Newsom has long been seen as friendly to Silicon Valley and wary of rules he believes could unduly restrict innovation. But pressure around AI has grown in 2026, alongside growing criticism of lightly regulated tech and reports linking harmful chatbot interactions to children who died by suicide. What's being done? OpenAI has publicly supported the California measure. In a statement released before the bill passed, the company said SB 1119 "builds on youth safety measures that OpenAI has supported through our products, global policy principles, advocacy in California, and work on the Parents & Kids Safe AI Act," according to Gizmodo. The company also highlighted ChatGPT for Teens, launched Aug. 18 for users ages 13 to 17, saying that younger users identified by the system are automatically placed into a version with additional protections and parental controls. If Newsom signs the bill, California would add another layer of accountability through age checks, audit requirements, and stricter limits on how minors' data can be used. Whether Newsom signs the bill or pushes for further changes, companies are under growing pressure to show that child safety is built into AI products from the start. As OpenAI put it, "We encourage Governor Newsom to sign the bill into law." Where can I learn more? California's fight over child-focused chatbot rules is part of a much wider debate over how AI companies are building and expanding their products. That debate spans everything from Sam Altman's public comments to scrutiny of data center water use in California and broader worries about jobs, electricity demand, and local communities. • Sam Altman drew criticism after claiming that intelligence will be a utility sold on a meter. • In California, lawmakers pushed data center water-use transparency as AI infrastructure kept expanding. • Across the tech sector, jobs, water, and electricity have fueled widening public backlash. Those stories help explain why youth-safety battles are unfolding alongside bigger questions about AI's social and environmental costs. They also show why California regulators and major companies are moving more carefully. Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.