The California legislation would have required tech companies to test AI for harm to society. It attracted opposition from numerous members of Congress and major AI companies including Google, Meta, and OpenAI.
California is the seventh U.S. state to adopt mobile driver’s licenses for iPhones, part of a growing push by businesses and governments to make digital IDs commonplace.
Responding to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s calls for a crackdown, officials in the San Mateo-Foster City School District and others across the state say banning smartphones improves test scores and results in a decline in depression, bullying and fights.
The sprawling bill that offers protection to whistleblowers and citizens was approved 32-1 by the state Senate in May faces a vote in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Thursday and must win final approval by Aug. 31 to reach Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk this year.