California’s Work on AI Laws Stalls Amid Fiscal, Tech Concerns

California lawmakers have encountered roadblocks this year in their efforts to put guardrails around artificial intelligence and automation, thanks to a combination of a poor fiscal climate and pushback from business interests.

The Golden State, known for enacting first-in-the-nation laws on tech policy and home to Silicon Valley, has been closely watched by observers in the AI space. The state seemed poised for action at the beginning of the year, but any significant AI policy initiative will probably have to wait until 2024, at the earliest.

Legislators had proposed measures to fight algorithmic discrimination and to give ...