California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday signed a bill to protect users, especially minors, from the potential harms of AI companions. Newsom approved SB 243, which requires AI companies to ensure that their chatbots clearly inform users that they are AI systems, not humans. The chatbots should also be trained to avoid sharing information regarding self-harm and redirect users engaging in such conversations to crisis management helplines. Plus, AI companies must submit annual reports on how they manage users with self-harm tendencies, effective July 1, 2027. "By setting clear guardrails, California is helping shape a more responsible approach to AI development and deployment across the country," an OpenAI spokesperson tells CNBC. Additionally, SB 243 requires AI chatbots to remind minors to take a break at least every three hours. The bots must also stop generating sexually explicit content for minors and engaging in sexual conversations with them. ChatGPT and Meta AI have allege...