AI Rules on Firing, Disciplining Workers Passed in California

A California labor-backed measure that would place first-in-the-nation rules on how employers use artificial intelligence to make workplace decisions was cleared by the state legislature on Friday.

The state Senate approved revisions on legislation (SB 7) by state Sen. Jerry McNerney (D) that would prevent businesses from solely using an automated system to discipline or fire a worker, and require human input on such actions. Companies would also be prohibited from using the technology for certain purposes such as disciplining workers for unionizing and inferring a worker’s religion or other protected characteristic.

Employers under the bill would need to ...