California Legislators Introduce No Robo Bosses Act to Regulate AI

California legislators introduced the No Robo Bosses Act (SB 7) to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace. Authored by Assembly members Sade Elhawary and Isaac Bryan and introduced by State Senator Jerry McNerny, the bill mandates human oversight for AI-driven decisions concerning promotions, demotions, terminations, and disciplinary actions.

The legislation prohibits large language models from accessing sensitive personal data, including immigration status, religious beliefs, and health history. It further bars the use of AI to predict future worker behavior for the purpose of taking negative employment actions. The California Federation of Labor Unions endorsed the measure, stating it aims to increase transparency and protect worker rights.

Legal experts noted that Colorado has already implemented similar measures to combat algorithmic discrimination. However, some warn that the bill could increase litigation and compliance costs, particularly for small businesses.