OpenAI backs California bill requiring stronger AI safeguards for teens

OpenAI is backing California Senate Bill 1119, legislation that would establish mandatory protections for young people using AI. In an OpenAI News post dated August 31, 2026, the company urged Governor Gavin Newsom to sign the bill.

The measure would require AI providers to estimate users’ ages, assess risks before releasing products to minors, undergo independent audits, limit targeted advertising, protect personal data, and respond to high-risk situations such as self-harm or sexual exploitation. For users identified as 13 to 17, these protections would apply by default. The bill also calls for parental controls and connections to crisis-support resources when serious risks emerge.

Why it matters for AI builders

OpenAI says the proposal is intended to treat AI differently from social media, preserving access to educational and safety-related features rather than broadly restricting use. That distinction could matter to developers building tutoring, study, creative, or productivity products for younger users: age assurance, safety testing, auditability, and family controls may become baseline product requirements in California.

The company points to its recently introduced ChatGPT for Teens, which includes Study mode, Quizzes, Learning Visualizations, parental controls, and automatic safeguards for users under 18. OpenAI says nearly nine in ten teens who use ChatGPT rely on it for learning, information, skill-building, or productivity during a typical week.

The company also says its teen-focused rules prohibit romantic engagement, encouragement of emotional dependence, and claims that the assistant is human or sentient. OpenAI supports continued collaboration during implementation as policymakers refine the framework and AI products evolve.

Source: OpenAI News